Not all autumn fright experience has to terrify players. Including iconic favorites like Scooby-Doo to endearing shows such as Over the Garden Wall, many Halloween-themed favorites offer entertainment without requiring causing fear. Additionally, a growing library of ghostly-adorable games featuring spooky themes, though lacking the sleep-with-the-lights-on intensity of terror. Gloomy Eyes arrived in September, and acts as an superb relaxing alternative to the intensely frightening games of 2025.
A Distinctive Self-Coop Adventure
Described as a single-player cooperative problem-solving title, Gloomy Eyes teams up a living-impaired child called Gloomy and a living girl called Nena as they start an mission to bring the sun back to their dark, dark realm. They look resembles stylized dolls mixed with the characters from a stop-motion animation. Their fair-toned and tired-looking aesthetic borrows heavily from the visual style of Tim Burton’s films, and the plot is a classic all-ages tale. The duo develops an strong bond over the span of the game’s multiple stages as Nena attempts to demonstrate to her priest uncle that, you know, maybe living-impaired beings can be friendly.
Original Problem-Solving Features
The “self-coop” label comes about from the game’s world-based challenges. Once Gloomy and Nena encounter each other, players alternate among the budding companions to solve puzzles and advance through the levels. Since he's not alive, Gloomy can’t walk through the brightness of a streetlight, while Nena will get snatched up by loitering creatures except if a beam is directed on them.
It's necessary for them to cooperate closely — actually, you’ll use them in tandem — to advance through areas. Nena could adjust or briefly disable lamps to open routes for Gloomy, while the intellectually curious character will employ his undead power to move items in the world, revealing routes for Nena.
Engaging World Building
These challenges bring to mind a bit of The Gardens Between, in the manner the stages are suspended, model-like constructions that the view moves across in coordination with your heroes. Gloomy Eyes’ environments are very enjoyable, leading the companions around a carnival and through a haunted house, among other locations. The game includes a “diorama view” feature that allows you to view from afar and spin the stages, both for enjoy the artwork and search for paths that may not have been apparent.
Small Challenges and General Experience
Here lies one of the sole difficulties with Gloomy Eyes. Like other titles with a static view, occasionally it's confusing where the heroes are able to move. You may need to simply collide with a multiple different elements to determine which ones are interactable, as the game doesn't always indicate.
Nonetheless, those slight obstacles don't hinder of a eerie-adorable enjoyable experience. Gloomy Eyes has a compact length, with approximately three to five hours worth of brain-teasers. Advanced areas blend together light sneaking and dynamic sequences with the puzzle solving, as Gloomy Eyes marches toward a rewarding — and moderately surprising — finale.
Accessibility and Summary
Players shying away from the frights of terrifying releases should definitely try Gloomy Eyes. The game is out on Switch console, PlayStation 5, PC, and Xbox Series X, and is available at a reduced price for a quarter off on digital platforms.
Gloomy Eyes is out now on multiple platforms and offers a delightful alternative for gamers in search of Halloween fun without the intense scares.
