Not every Halloween horror journey must scare you. Including beloved classics like mystery-solving cartoons to charming series like Over the Garden Wall, plenty of autumn-inspired titles offer entertainment without causing fear. There’s also, a growing library of eerie-charming games featuring autumn atmosphere, yet without the sleep-with-the-lights-on level of terror. Gloomy Eyes debuted in the fall, and stands as an excellent relaxing alternative to the deeply scary releases of 2025.
A Distinctive Collaborative Solo Quest
Described as a single-player cooperative problem-solving title, Gloomy Eyes unites a undead youth known as Gloomy and a mortal child named Nena as they embark on an quest to bring the sun back to their shadowy world. Their appearance evokes stylized dolls combined with the puppets from a Laika film. The fair-toned and tired-looking aesthetic draws inspiration from the look of Burtonesque cinema, and the story is a quintessential family-friendly tale. The pair forms an enduring bond over the course of the game’s 14 chapters as Nena strives to show to her religious guardian that, you know, perhaps living-impaired beings can be friendly.
Original Problem-Solving Features
The innovative description originates from the game’s environmental puzzles. After Gloomy and Nena meet, gamers switch between the newfound friends to solve puzzles and progress through the levels. Being a zombie, Gloomy cannot pass through the brightness of a lamppost, while Nena can be captured by loitering creatures except if a light is focused on them.
It's necessary for them to collaborate effectively — well, gamers operate them in tandem — to complete stages. Nena may move or momentarily deactivate lamps to clear paths for Gloomy, while the thoughtful character will employ his undead power to move objects in the world, opening up ways for Nena.
Engaging World Building
The brain-teasers bring to mind a little of The Gardens Between, in the fashion the stages are hovering, miniature constructions that the perspective moves across in coordination with your characters. Gloomy Eyes’ worlds are quite fun, taking the duo around a amusement park and through a spooky mansion, including other locales. The game includes a “diorama view” button that allows you to zoom out and spin the levels, both to enjoy the artwork and hunt for routes that may not have been apparent.
Minor Challenges and Complete Experience
Here lies one of the only difficulties with Gloomy Eyes. Comparable to other titles with a static view, it’s not always clear where the characters may or may not travel. You may need to just bump into a multiple different elements to discover which ones are interactable, as the game doesn't always indicate.
Nonetheless, those small challenges don't obstruct of a eerie-adorable good time. Gloomy Eyes runs on the short side, with about a few sessions worth of puzzles. Subsequent stages blend together minor stealth and action elements with the problem-solving, as Gloomy Eyes advances to a satisfying — and somewhat surprising — ending.
Release and Final Thoughts
Gamers steering clear of the frights of terrifying games ought to experience Gloomy Eyes. It’s available on Switch console, PS5, PC, and Xbox, and is available at a reduced price for 25% off on online stores.
Gloomy Eyes is available on several consoles and delivers a delightful alternative for fans seeking Halloween fun minus the fear factor.
