Gloomy Eyes

About

Gloomy Eyes is a single player casual action adventure game. It was developed by ARTE France and was released on September 12, 2025. It received very positive reviews from players.

Gloomy Eyes follows the story of Gloomy, a sweet zombie boy, and Nena, a mischievous human girl, who team up to bring back daylight in a world trapped in eternal night. Players switch between the two characters to solve environmental puzzles using their unique abilities. The game combines spooky charm and whimsical darkness in a beautifully crafted, Tim Burton-inspired universe.

Genres & Tags

Play Modes

Single-Player

Skip User Reviews

93%

Audience ScoreBased on 100 reviews

story25 positive mentions

replayability3 negative mentions

The game features adorable character design and a charming, Tim Burton-esque art style that enhances the overall atmosphere.
The puzzles strike a good balance, being engaging without being overly difficult, making the gameplay enjoyable for a wide range of players.
The narration is exceptional, adding depth to the story and enhancing the emotional experience throughout the game.

The game is quite short, typically taking around 4-5 hours to complete, which may leave some players wanting more content.
There are occasional bugs and glitches, such as characters getting stuck or issues with camera angles, which can disrupt the gameplay experience.
Some players found the gameplay mechanics repetitive and lacking in variety, leading to a feeling of sameness throughout the game.

story
63 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
40%
55%
5%
The game's story is widely praised for its charming, bittersweet narrative that blends elements of horror and whimsy, featuring endearing characters like Gloomy the zombie and his human friend Nena. Reviewers appreciate the emotional depth, engaging pacing, and the atmospheric art style that complements the storytelling, though some feel it could benefit from further development. Overall, the narrative is described as captivating and heartfelt, making it a standout aspect of the game.
- “The story transports you to a bittersweet and macabre world.”
- “A beautiful story with an important message, paired with an art style that feels perfect for the fall and Halloween season.”
- “The story is charming and heartfelt; a tale of love and light in a world of eternal night.”
- “It's such a shame, because this game has so much potential, if they just built on the story more, the characters, and introduced new elements as you progress.”
- “Very average, boring gameplay, scenery similar all the way through, and not much of a storyline.”
- “The story flows really well, the gameplay is thought-provoking and engaging.”
graphics
34 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
53%
38%
9%
The graphics of the game have received widespread acclaim for their beautiful, Tim Burton-inspired art style, which combines eerie and enchanting visuals that enhance the storytelling. Players appreciate the detailed, cozy aesthetics and the unique, moody designs that create a captivating atmosphere, making it a standout feature of the game. Overall, the graphics are described as phenomenal, with a charming and distinctive quality that complements the narrative perfectly.
- “The art style is both eerie and enchanting, weaving a visual story that perfectly complements the narrative.”
- “This is a beautiful little self-coop adventure with a gorgeous art style, cute characters, a somehow funny setting and - as many pointed out already - Tim Burtonesque visuals.”
- “The world is dark, dreamy and strangely cozy; and the art style was gorgeous.”
- “Graphics are cute and game mechanics work well.”
- “However, I'm glad they went back and created one with the same concept and art style!”
- “It is also quite Tim Burton in its aesthetic which has been done quite a few times before.”
gameplay
26 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
35%
53%
12%
The gameplay is characterized by a "self-coop" mechanic that involves switching between two characters to solve puzzles across 14 levels, offering a smooth and engaging experience. However, many players find the gameplay repetitive and short, with a total playtime of around 3-5 hours, leading to concerns about replayability and depth. While the mechanics are generally well-executed and the visuals charming, some players feel the overall experience lacks variety and a compelling storyline.
- “The key movements are smooth, the mechanics clean, and the overall experience unforgettable.”
- “Controlling both Gloomy and Nena in the clever 'self-coop' gameplay makes each puzzle feel rewarding and intimate, and the handcrafted dioramas are a visual treat.”
- “A beautifully made game with compelling puzzles, fresh mechanics, great art direction, and fun progression.”
- “It's very short; there are maybe three gameplay mechanics for each puzzle, which start to feel very repetitive. Nothing really changes or develops apart from the mini 'boss fight' moments.”
- “My only real complaint is that I see myself finishing this game within 5 hours, and for a $24 game, I expected more gameplay.”
- “It does have charm and style, but there isn't much to the actual gameplay, and it wears thin very fast.”
music
12 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
50%
25%
25%
The music in the game is widely praised for its atmospheric quality and well-composed tracks that enhance the overall experience. While some players noted that the loops in certain levels could be longer, the soundtrack is generally considered a standout feature that complements the game's charming graphics and storytelling. Overall, the music is described as lovely and fitting, adding significant depth to the gameplay.
- “The music deserves its own spotlight.”
- “The music and sound effects fit perfectly, adding just the right touch of atmosphere.”
- “There is a well composed soundtrack with a decent main theme here as well.”
- “The soundtrack is very atmospheric, although I found the loops in some levels a bit too short.”
- “There is a well-composed soundtrack with a decent main theme here as well.”
- “From the music, the art, to the story.”
atmosphere
11 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
55%
27%
18%
The game's atmosphere is widely praised for its stunning design and immersive soundtracks, creating a captivating and cozy experience that balances spookiness without relying on jump scares. Players appreciate the charming character design and the overall enchanting environment, likening it to a living pop-up book filled with delightful details. This unique blend of atmosphere, narrative, and puzzles makes it a standout indie title.
- “From the moment I stepped into its world, I was immediately struck by the stunning design and atmosphere.”
- “It’s spooky without ever relying on cheap jump scares, making it a rare indie gem that balances atmosphere, puzzles, and narrative perfectly.”
- “The atmosphere brings enough spookiness to give you those fall vibes, but keeps it cozy by eliminating those jump scare horror elements.”
- “Every moment in the game is full of atmosphere and charm, like a pop-up book come to life. I can't help but zoom out and find all the nooks and crannies it has to hide (the game even lets you look around like a diorama).”
emotional
10 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The emotional aspect of "Gloomy Eyes" is highlighted by its unique blend of visual beauty and heartfelt storytelling, featuring a charming narrative about love and companionship between a zombie boy and a human girl in a whimsical, Tim Burton-inspired world. Players find the experience to be both cozy and spooky, evoking a range of feelings from warmth to melancholy, making it a memorable and engaging adventure. Overall, the game successfully captures a balance of lightheartedness and emotional depth, appealing to those seeking a whimsical yet poignant experience.
- “The realism is this: there is no other game out there that blends this level of visual beauty, emotional storytelling, and immersive design quite like Gloomy Eyes.”
- “The story is charming and heartfelt; a tale of love and light in a world of eternal night.”
- “It’s dark, it’s cute, and somehow it made me feel both emo and wholesome at the same time.”
character development
5 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
80%
20%
The character development in the game is highly praised, with users highlighting the engaging storyline and the adorable character designs, particularly noting Nena's yellow raincoat. The beautiful visuals and overall atmosphere further enhance the players' emotional connection to the characters.
- “The best part of this game is the character development and the storyline!”
- “The character design is beautiful, and you can't help but fall in love with each character.”
- “I love the character design and the overall atmosphere of the game.”
replayability
4 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
25%
75%
The game's replayability is largely dependent on achievement hunting, as many players find the core experience too short and lacking in value for multiple playthroughs. Fixed camera angles and a slow pace contribute to a perception of minimal replay value, making it less appealing for those seeking varied gameplay experiences. Overall, while some may enjoy revisiting the game for achievements, most players feel it offers little incentive for replay.
- “Definitely replayable for all the achievements, if you are an achievement hunter.”
- “Really short, with zero replay value.”
- “The fixed camera angles can be a pain, there is a ton of blur for such a slow moving game, there's no flexibility to play and I can't imagine any replay value.”
- “But I paid 20€ on discount for a total of 3 hours of gameplay without replayability unless you want to hunt achievements, and that's just ... sad.”
stability
3 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
67%
Overall, the game's stability is mixed; while some players report minor glitches and a generally enjoyable experience, others have encountered blocking bugs that hinder progress. These issues, though not frequent, detract from the overall polish expected in a game of its size.
- “The game runs smoothly without any crashes or major bugs, making for a seamless experience.”
- “I appreciate how stable the game is; I haven't encountered any issues that disrupt gameplay.”
- “The performance is impressive, with no lag or glitches, allowing me to fully immerse myself in the game.”
- “The only reason this did not get a perfect score was because there had been a few glitches and bugs that would prevent me from being able to advance to the next area, but this only happened a couple of times.”
- “There were a few minor glitches, but aside from that, it was a 10/10 experience.”
humor
2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The game's humor is characterized by its charming, Tim Burton-inspired visuals and engaging voiceovers, complemented by amusing zombie characters that add to the overall whimsical atmosphere of the self-coop adventure.
- “This is a beautiful little self-coop adventure with a gorgeous art style, cute characters, a somehow funny setting, and - as many pointed out already - Tim Burtonesque visuals.”
- “The voiceover is so engaging, and the zombies around are funny to watch.”
optimization
1 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The game is well-optimized for the Steam Deck, running smoothly with minimal issues, though players have reported occasional soft locks between objects. A checkpoint reset option helps mitigate any frustrations from such occurrences.
- “It runs smoothly on the Steam Deck, and I only encountered a soft lock between objects once. Dying off the edge reset me, but there is a 'reset last checkpoint' option.”