Not all autumn fright journey has to scare gamers. From beloved classics like mystery-solving cartoons to charming series like Over the Garden Wall, numerous Halloween-themed titles offer entertainment without increasing anxiety. There’s also, a growing library of ghostly-adorable games including autumn atmosphere, yet without the sleep-with-the-lights-on level of fear. Gloomy Eyes was released in recent months, and serves as an outstanding cozy alternative to the truly terrifying games of 2025.
An Original Collaborative Solo Adventure
Labeled as a single-player cooperative problem-solving title, Gloomy Eyes teams up a undead youth named Gloomy and a mortal child named Nena as they start an mission to restore sunlight to their gloomy realm. Their appearance is similar to Funko Pops blended with the puppets from a Laika film. Their pale-skinned and baggy-eyed style borrows heavily from the appearance of Tim Burton’s films, and the story is a classic all-ages tale. The pair forms an enduring connection over the span of the game’s multiple stages as Nena attempts to demonstrate to her priest uncle that, hey, perhaps zombies aren’t half bad.
Innovative Gameplay Systems
The innovative term stems from the game’s world-based challenges. After Gloomy and Nena encounter each other, you’ll swap among the recent allies to solve puzzles and progress through the levels. Being a zombie, Gloomy is unable to traverse through the light of a light source, while Nena may be grabbed by idle zombies unless a lamp is shone on them.
It's necessary for them to work in tandem — well, gamers operate them together — to complete stages. Nena may move or briefly disable lights to create passages for Gloomy, while the thoughtful youth will employ his undead power to rearrange items in the world, revealing ways for Nena.
Immersive Level Design
The puzzles evoke memories a touch of The Gardens Between, in the way the stages are suspended, model-like designs that the camera rotates in sync with your protagonists. Gloomy Eyes’ settings are quite fun, leading the duo around a carnival and through a spooky mansion, among other places. Players can use a “diorama view” button that permits you to zoom out and rotate the areas, simultaneously to admire the visuals and hunt for paths that may not have been apparent.
Minor Issues and Overall Adventure
This represents one of the only problems with Gloomy Eyes. Similar to other releases with a static view, occasionally it's confusing where the heroes are able to move. Players might have to randomly encounter a several various elements to figure out which ones are interactive, as clues aren't consistently provided.
However, those slight speedbumps don’t get in the way of a spooky-cute fun adventure. Gloomy Eyes runs on the short side, with roughly a few sessions worth of puzzles. Subsequent stages integrate subtle sneaking and exciting moments with the puzzle solving, as Gloomy Eyes progresses to a rewarding — and somewhat unexpected — ending.
Availability and Summary
Players shying away from the scares of intense horror releases ought to experience Gloomy Eyes. The game is out on Nintendo Switch, Sony system, Windows PC, and Xbox Series X, and is currently on sale for a discount on game marketplaces.
This charming title has been released on multiple platforms and delivers a enjoyable choice for fans in search of Halloween fun without terrifying moments.
