Published by ARTE France, ATLAS V, 3DAR, Be Revolution, and Untold Tales, and developed by Belgian studio Fishing Cactus, Gloomy Eyes is a self-co-op puzzle adventure game. The game features a ghoulish art style inspired by legendary filmmaker and artist Tim Burton. Halloween may still be a month away, but Gloomy Eyes is now ready to bring the spooks early on PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S, Nintendo Switch, and PC.

When the sun gave up on humanity, darkness and gloom took its place. In a world plunged into eternal night and torn by conflict between the living and the undead, one faint glimmer of hope still flickers in the hearts of two special souls. Gloomy Eyes tells the tale of Gloomy, a sweet zombie boy, and Nena, a mischievous human girl, who defy the rules by teaming up and embarking on a quest to bring back the daylight.

In this self-co-op puzzle adventure game, players will take control of both Gloomy and Nena. Each character has their own strengths and weaknesses, and must work together to solve puzzles and reach the goal across 14 stages. Gloomy is the stronger of the two, able to move heavy objects and throw items, but cannot survive if exposed to bright lights. Nena can move freely under bright lights, jump across gaps, and climb ladders, but can’t get close to zombies without being grabbed, while Gloomy can get up close to them without any harm.

The puzzles are simple at first with visual prompts to get you acquainted with the game’s mechanics, but the puzzles become increasingly more creative and challenging as the game progresses. Each stage features its own unique themes, including graveyards, forests, mines, and more. Players will first play as Gloomy and Nena separately for the first few chapters, before controlling both and switching between them.

There is also a stealth aspect to the game, as Gloomy and Nena will also have to avoid being seen by living people on patrol. If spotted, players must try to escape before being captured. Thankfully, the game takes you back to the last checkpoint, so you don’t have to start again from the beginning. Not only do players have to figure out puzzles, but they also have to plan and time their moves. At first, some of the puzzles, environments, and visual cues were a bit confusing, and I thought this might become a recurring issue for the rest of the game, but surprisingly, I didn’t encounter this issue the more I played.

Another way to find clues to help solve is by zooming out and seeing the entire stage, being able to rotate it, and looking closely at certain things you may not be able to see while playing. Keep in mind, this won’t pause the game, so it’s best to make sure Gloomy and Nena are in a safe place where they won’t be spotted.

Unfortunately for the taller stages, the game doesn’t allow you to move the stage up or down, so you can only zoom in on the middle section of that stage. Regardless of that, it’s also a great way for players to admire the designs of each stage and see how big or small they are, but no matter the size, they can be deceiving in terms of how much you need to do.

What stands out the most is the game’s art style and presentation, which draws inspiration from Tim Burton, with its dark and ghoulish yet cartoony aesthetic. The 3D character models and environments resemble something out of a Tim Burton film, particularly The Nightmare Before Christmas and Corpse Bride, but more specifically, Coraline.

The animation almost has a stop-motion look and feel, similar to that seen in those films, which adds to the creepy atmosphere of the game. The entire soundtrack is perfectly fitting for a game inspired by the legendary filmmaker and artist.

Even in this dark and gloomy game, there’s a charming love story between two characters who shouldn’t belong together. When Gloomy and Nena first meet, they seem unsure of each other at first, but their bond slowly grows. In a world where living humans and undead zombies cannot coexist, they must set off on a journey together to find the sun and restore its light to the world. Cutscenes will play between each stage, with the story narrated by the Gravekeeper, who can also be found sitting alone in some stages, making the game feel like a movie as well.

The game may not feature gore or jump scares, but it is full of spooky vibes that can send chills down your spine while telling a dark, yet charming and heartwarming, love story about an undead zombie boy and a living human girl who shouldn’t belong together. The art style and presentation alone make this game worth playing, as it’s clear how much love and attention were put into this.

The puzzles are creative and challenging, with two characters who perform different tasks to achieve the same goal. Gloomy Eyes is a simple yet challenging and creative puzzle game set in a whimsical, haunting world, featuring a beautiful tale of forbidden love.

Written by: Sammy Hanson