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Tuesday, October 13, 2026
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This Spooky-Cute Puzzler Functions as the Perfect Substitute to Halloween Horror

Not every spooky season adventure needs to scare players. From beloved classics for example Scooby-Doo to endearing shows including Over the Garden Wall, plenty of spooky-season favorites provide fun without needing raising your heart rate. There’s also, a increasing selection of spooky-cute games including Halloween vibes, though lacking the truly terrifying degree of terror. Gloomy Eyes debuted in September, and acts as an outstanding cozy alternative to the intensely frightening games of the current season.

Gloomy Eyes visual
Image: ARTE France, Production Team, Design Group, Game Company

A Unique Self-Coop Quest

Labeled as a solo collaboration problem-solving title, Gloomy Eyes teams up a undead youth called Gloomy and a living girl named Nena as they begin an quest to return daylight to their shadowy environment. They look is similar to Funko Pops mixed with the characters from a animated feature. The pale-skinned and tired-looking appearance borrows heavily from the look of Gothic fantasy movies, and the narrative is a archetypal family-friendly adventure. These two forms an strong friendship over the span of the game’s 14 chapters as Nena strives to show to her priest uncle that, you know, maybe living-impaired beings aren’t half bad.

Original Gameplay Systems

This unique term originates from the game’s interactive problem-solving. When Gloomy and Nena cross paths, you’ll swap between the recent allies to overcome obstacles and advance through the areas. Being a zombie, Gloomy cannot pass through the illumination of a streetlight, while Nena may be grabbed by wandering undead unless a beam is shone on them.

They have to work in tandem — in practice, gamers operate them in tandem — to complete stages. Nena could adjust or momentarily deactivate lights to create passages for Gloomy, while the thoughtful boy will employ his undead power to move objects in the surroundings, creating paths for Nena.

The game screenshot
Visual: Developers, ATLAS V, 3DAR, Be Revolution/Untold Tales

Engaging World Building

These challenges remind me a little of The Gardens Between, in the way the areas are floating, diorama-like designs that the view rotates in coordination with your heroes. Gloomy Eyes’ settings are very enjoyable, guiding the friends around a fair and through a haunted house, among other locales. The game includes a “diorama view” option that enables you to pull back and spin the areas, both for admire the artwork and look for routes that may not have been obvious.

Slight Challenges and General Gameplay

Here lies one of the sole hiccups with Gloomy Eyes. Comparable to other releases with a static view, it’s not always clear where the heroes may or may not travel. Players might have to simply collide with a several various elements to determine which ones are interactable, as clues aren't consistently provided.

However, those small speedbumps don't obstruct of a spooky-cute enjoyable experience. Gloomy Eyes has a compact length, with roughly three to five hours worth of puzzles. Advanced areas integrate light hidden movement and action elements with the challenge completion, as Gloomy Eyes marches toward a satisfying — and moderately surprising — conclusion.

Accessibility and Conclusion

Gamers shying away from the terror of fear-inducing titles should definitely try Gloomy Eyes. You can find it on Nintendo Switch, PS5, Windows PC, and Xbox Series X, and is available at a reduced price for a discount on online stores.

Gloomy Eyes is available on various systems and delivers a delightful alternative for players looking for Halloween fun without the intense scares.

The writer

Robert Martin

A fashion journalist with over a decade of experience covering global trends and sustainable style.

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