Gloomy Eyes Nintendo Switch Review: A Hauntingly Charming Puzzle Adventure
Gloomy Eyes, developed by 3DAR and published by ARTE France, arrives on the Nintendo Switch, offering players a unique blend of dark whimsy and lighthearted puzzling.
Inspired by Tim Burton's signature visual style, this adventure-puzzle game transports players into a shadowy world where cooperation—despite daunting odds—is key.
Originally based on a critically-acclaimed animated VR short film from 2019, Gloomy Eyes now reaches handheld gamers looking for an atmospheric yet approachable experience. In Gloomy Eyes, players step into the roles of Gloomy, a young zombie boy, and Nena, a living girl.
Their intertwined journey revolves around searching for the sun, which has mysteriously vanished from their world.
The game's story unfolds through atmospheric visuals, subtle sound design, and a narrative structure that leans more into spooky charm than overt horror.
Despite a distinctly creepy tone, the gameplay steers clear of jump scares, making it suitable for a broad audience, including younger gamers. Level design in Gloomy Eyes strongly echoes the planetary progression seen in classics like Super Mario Galaxy.
Each stage presents a new diorama-style setting packed with environmental obstacles and integrated puzzles.
The player must alternate between Gloomy and Nena, leveraging their unique abilities to progress: Gloomy cannot survive in light, while Nena must avoid zombies.
Their collaboration—performed from different parts of each level—forms the crux of the gameplay experience.
As the player advances, they must explore and experiment with each environment, switching between characters to discover solutions that help both protagonists move forward. The game is entirely single-player, encouraging players to think critically about how Gloomy and Nena complement each other.
In initial levels, for example, Nena can deactivate lights, allowing Gloomy to access previously unreachable areas and in turn solve puzzles that aid Nena.
These areas resemble interactive storybook scenes, which players can rotate and inspect from multiple angles, adding to the immersive, hands-on feel. Notably, Gloomy Eyes intentionally avoids direct hand-holding.
Players are expected to thoroughly explore each environment to find the next step, lending the experience a sense of discovery akin to an escape room.
While the core gameplay loop centers on exploration and puzzle-solving, finally cracking each puzzle brings considerable satisfaction.
The game is concise and can be completed in one or two focused sessions; however, its brevity may leave some players wishing for more. On the Nintendo Switch, Gloomy Eyes faces a couple of technical setbacks.
The camera can feel restrictive in tighter areas, sometimes obscuring key paths or interactive elements.
Furthermore, the game's muted color palette and softer visuals—reminiscent of Burton's Corpse Bride—lose some sharpness on the Switch display, which may affect immersion for some players. As of its December 2023 launch on the Nintendo eShop, Gloomy Eyes is priced at $25.
While the game succeeds in delivering a heartfelt and gently spooky adventure, potential buyers should consider its short runtime and graphical compromises on the Switch when making their purchase. In summary, Gloomy Eyes on Nintendo Switch offers a cozy, atmospheric puzzle adventure with broad appeal, especially for younger players and fans of imaginative animated worlds.
Though its price and lack of visual polish on Nintendo's hardware may give pause, its engaging story and clever mechanics make it a noteworthy addition to the eShop catalogue—at any season of the year.
Inspired by Tim Burton's signature visual style, this adventure-puzzle game transports players into a shadowy world where cooperation—despite daunting odds—is key.
Originally based on a critically-acclaimed animated VR short film from 2019, Gloomy Eyes now reaches handheld gamers looking for an atmospheric yet approachable experience. In Gloomy Eyes, players step into the roles of Gloomy, a young zombie boy, and Nena, a living girl.
Their intertwined journey revolves around searching for the sun, which has mysteriously vanished from their world.
The game's story unfolds through atmospheric visuals, subtle sound design, and a narrative structure that leans more into spooky charm than overt horror.
Despite a distinctly creepy tone, the gameplay steers clear of jump scares, making it suitable for a broad audience, including younger gamers. Level design in Gloomy Eyes strongly echoes the planetary progression seen in classics like Super Mario Galaxy.
Each stage presents a new diorama-style setting packed with environmental obstacles and integrated puzzles.
The player must alternate between Gloomy and Nena, leveraging their unique abilities to progress: Gloomy cannot survive in light, while Nena must avoid zombies.
Their collaboration—performed from different parts of each level—forms the crux of the gameplay experience.
As the player advances, they must explore and experiment with each environment, switching between characters to discover solutions that help both protagonists move forward. The game is entirely single-player, encouraging players to think critically about how Gloomy and Nena complement each other.
In initial levels, for example, Nena can deactivate lights, allowing Gloomy to access previously unreachable areas and in turn solve puzzles that aid Nena.
These areas resemble interactive storybook scenes, which players can rotate and inspect from multiple angles, adding to the immersive, hands-on feel. Notably, Gloomy Eyes intentionally avoids direct hand-holding.
Players are expected to thoroughly explore each environment to find the next step, lending the experience a sense of discovery akin to an escape room.
While the core gameplay loop centers on exploration and puzzle-solving, finally cracking each puzzle brings considerable satisfaction.
The game is concise and can be completed in one or two focused sessions; however, its brevity may leave some players wishing for more. On the Nintendo Switch, Gloomy Eyes faces a couple of technical setbacks.
The camera can feel restrictive in tighter areas, sometimes obscuring key paths or interactive elements.
Furthermore, the game's muted color palette and softer visuals—reminiscent of Burton's Corpse Bride—lose some sharpness on the Switch display, which may affect immersion for some players. As of its December 2023 launch on the Nintendo eShop, Gloomy Eyes is priced at $25.
While the game succeeds in delivering a heartfelt and gently spooky adventure, potential buyers should consider its short runtime and graphical compromises on the Switch when making their purchase. In summary, Gloomy Eyes on Nintendo Switch offers a cozy, atmospheric puzzle adventure with broad appeal, especially for younger players and fans of imaginative animated worlds.
Though its price and lack of visual polish on Nintendo's hardware may give pause, its engaging story and clever mechanics make it a noteworthy addition to the eShop catalogue—at any season of the year.
