Not every spooky season experience has to scare players. Starting with beloved classics such as Scooby-Doo to charming series such as Over the Garden Wall, numerous Halloween-themed staples provide fun without needing causing fear. Moreover, a increasing selection of eerie-charming releases with Halloween vibes, yet without the keep-you-awake intensity of horror. Gloomy Eyes debuted in recent months, and serves as an superb cozy option to the intensely frightening titles of 2025.
A Unique Collaborative Solo Adventure
Known as a “self-coop” puzzle game, Gloomy Eyes teams up a zombie boy named Gloomy and a living girl named Nena as they embark on an quest to bring the sun back to their shadowy world. Their appearance is similar to Funko Pops mixed with the puppets from a Laika film. The pale-skinned and heavy-lidded style draws inspiration from the visual style of Gothic fantasy movies, and the story is a archetypal family-friendly tale. The pair builds an unbreakable connection over the course of the game’s 14 chapters as Nena attempts to prove to her clerical relative that, you know, maybe zombies aren’t half bad.
Original Gameplay Systems
The “self-coop” term comes about from the game’s environmental puzzles. When Gloomy and Nena cross paths, players alternate between the budding companions to overcome obstacles and advance through the areas. Since he's not alive, Gloomy can’t walk through the light of a lamppost, while Nena may be grabbed by loitering creatures unless a beam is shone on them.
It's necessary for them to cooperate closely — well, players control them simultaneously — to complete stages. Nena may move or temporarily shut off illumination to create passages for Gloomy, while the thoughtful character will use his zombie strength to shift around obstacles in the surroundings, opening up routes for Nena.
Engaging World Building
The brain-teasers remind me a little of The Gardens Between, in the way the levels are suspended, model-like designs that the view pans around in sync with your protagonists. Gloomy Eyes’ worlds are highly entertaining, guiding the companions around a amusement park and through a ghostly building, amid other locations. Players can use a “diorama view” button that enables you to pull back and rotate the areas, simultaneously to admire the artwork and look for routes that may not have been clear.
Small Hiccups and General Gameplay
And that’s one of the only problems with Gloomy Eyes. Similar to other releases with a locked camera, it’s not always clear where the characters may or may not travel. Players might have to just bump into a several various elements to discover which ones are interactable, as clues aren't consistently provided.
However, those small challenges don’t get in the way of a ghostly-charming fun adventure. Gloomy Eyes is relatively brief, with about three to five hours worth of brain-teasers. Later levels integrate subtle stealth and action elements with the puzzle solving, as Gloomy Eyes marches toward a fulfilling — and somewhat unforeseen — finale.
Availability and Summary
Gamers avoiding the frights of terrifying titles won’t want to miss Gloomy Eyes. You can find it on Nintendo platform, Sony system, computer, and Xbox Series X, and is available at a reduced price for a discount on online stores.
Gloomy Eyes has been released on several consoles and offers a pleasurable alternative for gamers looking for autumn enjoyment without intense scares.
