Once Upon A Puppet
Once Upon A Puppet
Game
Game2025
Gloomy Eyes
Developer Atlas V, Be Revolution Gaming, 3Dar
A cozy horror, “self-coop”, adventure about two unlikely souls who forge a forbidden bond and journey together to find the sun. Explore eerie yet charming Tim Burton-esque levels, switch between two unique characters, and solve brain-teasing puzzles. From the Steam store page
251 reactions from 4 sources (Steam reviews, Bluesky, Mastodon, Lemmy) · newest Nov 3, 2026 · last updated Nov 5, 2026 · How this works
Audience score
91
LovedLoved
143 positive · 14 negative
95% range 86–95%
| Source | + | − | = |
|---|---|---|---|
| Steam reviews | 143 | 14 | 0 |
| Bluesky * | 13 | 0 | 48 |
| Mastodon * | 0 | 0 | 29 |
| Lemmy * | 0 | 0 | 4 |
* shown, not counted in the score (label accuracy below our 85% bar or not yet audited).
Steam's own rating
Very Positive
148 of 162 reviews positive (all languages, per Valve)
What players are saying
93% recommend · 139 yes, 11 no
Counted from the reviewers’ own thumbs up/down on the 150 English Steam reviews we collected, not by the AI. Valve’s all-language rating: Very Positive (269 of 284 positive).
Players praise the game's Tim Burton-esque art style and cozy, spooky atmosphere. [1][2][3] Some reviewers find the game too short and the puzzles repetitive. [4][5][6] Several players note issues with camera angles and occasional bugs. [7][4][5]
Liked
Representative posts
- [4]
It hurts me to not recommend this game, because it should be exactly my type of game. Beautioful, unique visuals, horror aesthetics without actual horror, cozy gaameplay... I really want to love it! But I finished the game in 3 hours and I see no point in replaying any of it. The puzzles are good enough, but there's only one solution to any of them. The character movement often feels clunky and at times the more or …
- [10]
I absolutely loved this game. Everything about it was breathtakingly beautiful – from the artwork, the story, soundtrack, and the voice acting. If you like Tim Burton’s work, you will likely love this. The story was heartwarming and wonderful to experience. There are frequent autosaves and the ability to replay any of the 14 chapters in case you miss a memento or a grave keeper sighting. Gameplay mostly consists of …
- [13]
TL;DR: Like a Tim Burton short where nothing really happens. Gloomy Eyes isn’t here to test your brain or eat up your weekend. It’s a small puzzle game where you swap between a zombie boy and a human girl to solve bite-sized stages. Flip a switch, open a path, move on. The puzzles never get complicated, which keeps the pace quick but also means you won’t feel much sense of triumph either. What makes it work is the …
- [3]
🕯️Oh wow what a treat this game is!!🕯️ You can tell every inch is made with love and passion. The game is a love letter to classic Tim Burton im getting some Nightmare before Christmas in there and a Little Nightmares too. The game is a cozy creepy puzzle adventure where you get to play as the endearing Gloomy and his new friend Nena, after a meet cute they go on a quest to rid the land of it's evil. Every moment …
- [1]
Gloomy Eyes is a delightful adventure with a style that is “Tim Burton-ish.” At its heart, it is a love story between Gloomy (the zombie boy) and Nena (a lonely human girl). With themes taken from Romeo and Juliet, the two come from different “tribes” and their friendship is forbidden. They must fight to stay together, working in tandem to restore sunshine to a dark world. You control both characters. Gloomy is …
Summarised from 34 of the 235 public posts collected about this game; every point cites the posts behind it ([n] opens the post) and the split is counted from the posts’ own ratings. Updated Oct 13, 2026. How summaries are made
RottenBot@rottenbot · automated account
93% of the 150 Steam reviewers we collected recommend Gloomy Eyes. The complaint that keeps coming up: puzzles feel repetitive with limited mechanics. Deal-breaker or nitpick?
Reactions
60 of 251 · most liked firstIt hurts me to not recommend this game, because it should be exactly my type of game. Beautioful, unique visuals, horror aesthetics without actual horror, cozy gaameplay... I really want to love it! But I finished the game in 3 hours and I see no point in replaying any of it. The puzzles are good enough, but there's only one solution to any of them. The character movement often feels clunky and at times the more or less fixed camera angle is chosen so badly it makes me angry. Within 3 hours…
negative · reviewer's own thumbsView post →The shortlisted nominees for 'Best Art Direction' at Debug's 2026 Indie Game Awards are... Bye Sweet Carole Dreams of Another Gloomy Eyes ROUTINE The Séance of Blake Manor UNBEATABLE Thank you to @gamemaker.io for making our 2026 ceremony possible. See you there IRL on 25 April 2026!
neutral · AI labelView post →ARTE joins Gamescom & Indie Arena Booth with four lovingly crafted games: 🧟♂️ Gloomy Eyes 👀 Tom the postgirl 🪲Looking for Fael 🐥The Merlies. Stop by, take a breath, and dive into new worlds. A bit strange, a bit tender, and full of heart. 🫶 @indiearenabooth.de
neutral · AI labelView post →I fell in love with the demo for this months ago and the full release did not disappoint. The game is a self co-op game with two adorable characters that can be easily switched between them (once you get to the joint chapters) with Gloomy and Nena each having different abilities and perils that must be used together to solve the puzzles and find the path forward. The slight downside of the game, however, is that once the path is open and one character has reached the end point, the other…
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →I can't in good faith recommend this game. It's very short, there's like 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. I accidentally walked into the light as Gloomy and got sent back 10 minuets worth of play time, most of which, is taken up by the very slow walking the characters do, which made me quit for the night, as I couldn't mentally deal with the idea of the faff of…
negative · reviewer's own thumbsView post →Weekly Schedule! 📆 There's a fancy new Anniversary card available on Phasmophobia from today! 🍰 Drops ON all week! And I'm also going to be trying out Gloomy Eyes - a super cute new horror game!! 👻 🎨 Art by @diasfox.bsky.social 🦊
neutral · AI labelView post →I absolutely loved this game. Everything about it was breathtakingly beautiful – from the artwork, the story, soundtrack, and the voice acting. If you like Tim Burton’s work, you will likely love this. The story was heartwarming and wonderful to experience. There are frequent autosaves and the ability to replay any of the 14 chapters in case you miss a memento or a grave keeper sighting. Gameplay mostly consists of switching characters to solve puzzles and advance. Nena can climb, operate…
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →INDIE GAMES AAAAAAAAAAAAA You're gonna be spinnin' around after checking out all these games im showing off on twitch! 🦊gamelist: Brew Dragon March TAMASHIKA FUNI RACCOON GAME Gloomy Eyes Giggleland 8PM EST! twitch.tv/foxotic #protogen #vtuber #indiegame #furry #gamedemos
neutral · AI labelView post →Gloomy Eyes is a delightful adventure with a style that is “Tim Burton-ish.” At its heart, it is a love story between Gloomy (the zombie boy) and Nena (a lonely human girl). With themes taken from Romeo and Juliet, the two come from different “tribes” and their friendship is forbidden. They must fight to stay together, working in tandem to restore sunshine to a dark world. You control both characters. Gloomy is impervious to zombies but is killed by light. Nena thrives in the light and is at…
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →It's a charming little game but the story feels incomplete and is a bit too short and janky for the price point. I'm glad I got it on sale. A little more camera control, the option to have both characters move together, and a more fleshed out story would have made me enjoy the game a lot more but I didn't dislike it.
negative · reviewer's own thumbsView post →Full Walktrough: https://youtu.be/42Rm7gLoDsA Gameplay: Very Good (got some bugs but restarting will save you) Graphics: Beautiful Story: Excellent Game Time: 2 Hours Here I will leave the cat, friends who pass by can pet it and give it a thumbs up ／＞ フ | l ／` ミ＿xノ / | / ヽ ﾉ │ | | | ／￣| | | | | (￣ヽ＿ヽ)__)
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →Have you ever heard of Gloomy Eyes? It is a beautiful cozy puzzle game involving 2 children in a world where the dead have raised up from the ground and humans, terrified, locked their children away. I highly recommend it! Come check it out : twitch.tv/hiokleo
positive · AI labelView post →Gloomy Eyes, a cinematic adventure game, was released today on Steam.. Gloomy Eyes, a cinematic adventure game, was released today on Steam. This one isn’t shy about where it’s coming from. The Nightmare Before Christmas. Beetlejuice. Corpse Bride. The Steam description flat-out calls it “Tim Burton-esque,” and for once, that isn’t hyperbole. If you’ve got a soft spot for candlelit dioramas, skeletal banquets, and sweetly grotesque romance, this is going to feel like home. The story drops you…
neutral · AI labelView post →Experienced on the Samsung Odyssey 3D G90XF You can view my 3D gaming here (4K SBS 3D / VR 180): https://youtu.be/4K8MEVHo2R4 Yes, you can play Gloomy Eyes in 3D in VR or a 3D display using the completely free Geo-11 3D driver. No, this game is NOT already VR, the VR game on Steam is a completely different game based on the same IP. The VR version is a 360 movie short. This "pancake" version is a narrative-driven horror adventure puzzle game. I don't know why the developers didn't make this…
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →blur effects you can't disable
negative · reviewer's own thumbsView post →Very cozy, cute, creepy, and interesting puzzle game! Graphics look amazingly gloomy! Sadly the achievements are bugged atm, and for an achievement wh*re (like myself), that is not so great. So I'll hold off on playing it, until the achievements are fixed. But if you don't care about achievements, then surely try out this magnificent game! 8/10 (for me) ((UPDATE)) Can confirm that the achievements have been fixed! Thank you dev(s)!
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →It wasn't a bad game at all, but for the price and how short it was, I would not recommend it for the price you had to pay. As a great gamer it wasn't long enough.
negative · reviewer's own thumbsView post →Our next Tiny Game Chronicles play-along is ready for spooky season: Gloomy Eyes! A cosy horror adventure full of dark fairy tale charm. Find it on PC, PS5, Xbox Series X|S and Switch. Share your standouts below by 4 Oct! store.steampowered.com/app/2667950/... #GloomyEyes #IndieGames #CozyHorror
neutral · AI labelView post →I'm generally a solo player gamer, so this game was such a great play on that. I love the aesthetic and how the puzzles really make you think. Cute story, adorable characters. I loved it!
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →Another short game finished. This time a "self co-op" environmental puzzle game called Gloomy Eyes. Loved the Tim Burton-esque art style. The narrator VO was great and the story was nice. Pretty chilled out experience all in all. Worth checking out in a sale since it's only about 4h long.
positive · AI labelView post →A beautiful story with an important message, paired with an art style that feels perfect for the fall and Halloween season.
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →Gloomy Eyes: 9/10 Platform: Steam Completion Time: 4.5 Hours Price Tag: 24.99 A heartwarming cozy horror puzzle adventure set-in a beautifully crafted, Tim Burton inspired, world…not to mention Colin Farrell is the narrator?! The world has been plunged into an eternal night creating a conflict between the living and the dead. A sweet zombie boy, Gloomy, is accused of stealing the sunlight. A mischievous and independent little girl, Nena, would do anything to get the sun back, even if that…
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →Gloomy Eyes | Reveal Trailer (PC, Switch, PS5, Xbox X/S). Release Date: "Coming Soon"
neutral · AI labelView post →As you may know, Gloomy Eyes will be available later this year on Steam. All hail the zombies!! 🧟♂️ But did you know that this upcoming enchanting adventure is based on a VR animation? While waiting for the game, you can become familiar with the Gloomy Eyes universe through this gladsome story.
neutral · AI labelView post →The game has so much potential — if you love Little Nightmares, you will think this game is for you. But upon playing it, I realized it really has nothing to do with Little Nightmares. The visuals are amazing and the story is good, but unfortunately the execution is kinda bad. The gameplay is really slow and there are many bugs — sometimes you need to restart the chapter if the character gets stuck. The puzzles aren't obvious, which is great, but some of them are so sparse that it isn't fun…
negative · reviewer's own thumbsView post →Checking out this cozy Tim Burton style puzzle game #Gloomyeyes twitch.tv/geekygonewilds
neutral · AI labelView post →Leave my boy Gloomy alone
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →TL;DR: Like a Tim Burton short where nothing really happens. Gloomy Eyes isn’t here to test your brain or eat up your weekend. It’s a small puzzle game where you swap between a zombie boy and a human girl to solve bite-sized stages. Flip a switch, open a path, move on. The puzzles never get complicated, which keeps the pace quick but also means you won’t feel much sense of triumph either. What makes it work is the atmosphere. The world leans full storybook-gothic, the narrator brings it to…
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →It does have charm and style, but there isn't much to the actual gameplay and it wears thin very fast. I had been hoping for at least 7-10 hours of adventure but there are only 12 chapters to it and can be beat in less than 3 hours apparently. I only got through 7 chapters but had seen all I needed to. 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. Most every chapter looks the same.…
negative · reviewer's own thumbsView post →Gloomy Eyes | Release Date Trailer (PC, PlayStation, Xbox, Switch). Release Date: September 12th Description: Players will alternate between controlling two unique characters as they embark on a journey to bring sunlight back to a world plunged into nasty, bitter darkness. The game is set in a lovingly haunting, Tim Burton-esque visual aesthetic, reminiscent of Corpse Bride and The Nightmare Before Christmas. https://www.nintendo.com/us/store/products/gloomy-eyes-switch/
neutral · AI labelView post →MOAR INDIE GAMES! eeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee here's 6 sick new game demos to play and check out - that's what my channel's all about! Tonight's Indie Flight: Gloomy Eyes UNBEATABLE Hirogami Henry Halfhead Bulbo's Belief System FUGUE Shot 8PM EST twitch.tv/foxotic #protogen #indiegame #furry #gamedemos
neutral · AI labelView post →We're happy to share that 30 Birds and Gloomy Eyes have been nominated at the Belgian Game Awards 2025! ✨ Gloomy Eyes - Best Visual Design ✨ 30 Birds - Best Visual Design & Best narrative Congrats @coline-ramram.bsky.social @fishingcactus.bsky.social @untoldtales.bsky.social 🎉
neutral · AI labelView post →Gloomy Eyes – Launch Trailer – Nintendo Switch. - **Description**: The sun has vanished. The world lies in bitter darkness. But in the shadows… a curious girl and a gentle zombie boy are about to change everything. Witness stunningly haunting visuals in this single-player “self-coop” cozy horror adventure filled with puzzle-solving and exploring of spooky dioramas—all in the search to restore the sun. - **Price**: $24.99 ($19.99 for release month sale) - **Link**:…
neutral · AI labelView post →A beautifully made game with compelling puzzles, fresh mechanics, great art direction and and fun progression.
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →Cozy horror game Gloomy Eyes by @untoldtales.bsky.social arrives on the Playsum Games Store tomorrow! We have a special launch deal so you can grab it at a discount right from Playsum! Switch between 2 unique characters in this eerie yet charming Tim Burton-esque adventure☀️🌕 #gloomyeyes #cozygame
neutral · AI labelView post →Gloomy Eyes is a short but very charming experience. It's not trying to reinvent storytelling or gameplay and, honestly, it doesn't need to. What it does, it does well. The story is simple, cute and surprisingly touching. It's presented like a dark fairy tale, mixing spooky visuals with a warm and wholesome story. The contrast works really well and gives the game its own unique atmosphere. I found myself getting attached to the characters. The visuals are really nice. Every scene looks…
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →FAVE GAME SO FAR! Obsessed with the Tim Burton-esque art style, dark and phenomenal atmosphere, reminded me of LN3 but cozy & adorable. Great soundtrack, great voice actors, beautiful storyline, easy combat, light puzzles...HAD TO 100% it !! LOVE LOVE LOVE will play it again sometime this year<3 great job with this one guys, need a sequel<333
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →I got Gloomy Eyes gifted and was immediately excited to try it out. The art style instantly reminded me of The Midnight Walk and Tim Burton vibes, so my expectations were already high🎃✨ Thankfully, the game did not disappoint. Gloomy Eyes is a cozy spooky, self-coop adventure where you switch between two main characters while moving from level to level. I finished the game in two sessions and honestly loved every minute of it!! It’s simple, but in the best way. As you progress, the story…
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →Cute, but boring after 20 minutes. :/
negative · reviewer's own thumbsView post →This game is addicting. PLAY IIIIIIIIT. You won't regret it. Unless you're lame.
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →Spooptober’s a wrap! 🎃 25 days, 16 games, 56 screams, 177 deaths, 15 spicy gummies! 😱🔥 Favs Played: Gloomy Eyes, Dead Space, Amnesia, F.E.A.R. 2, Ib, Still Wakes the Deep, Vlad Circus 💀 Taking this week off to rest + reset. Back November 10 with a new Monday game!
positive · AI labelView post →NEW VIDEO Got the full review of Gloomy Eyes out now. We'll be playing the game tomorrow at 1pm UK time. It'll be fun, I think? 🔗 www.youtube.com/watch?v=WlhB... #VTuber | #ENVTuber
neutral · AI labelView post →Very average, boring gameplay, scenery similar all the way through, and not much of a storyline.
negative · reviewer's own thumbsView post →Enjoyed playing though Gloomy Eyes on stream! Really nice art style and type of game as a “single player co-op” experience. Definitely recommend for a spooky season puzzle game.
positive · AI labelView post →🕯️Oh wow what a treat this game is!!🕯️ You can tell every inch is made with love and passion. The game is a love letter to classic Tim Burton im getting some Nightmare before Christmas in there and a Little Nightmares too. The game is a cozy creepy puzzle adventure where you get to play as the endearing Gloomy and his new friend Nena, after a meet cute they go on a quest to rid the land of it's evil. Every moment in the game is full of atmosphere and charm like a pop up book come to life, i…
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →Spooktober update!! I'm choosing Gloomy Eyes as game number 5 and the last addition to the play-along. I've purchased it last week with the Cozy After Dark showcase bundle and I'm excited to play it. It's a mystery puzzle game and I love the Tim Burton vibes. www.humblebundle.com/games/cozy-a...
positive · AI labelView post →Gloomy Eyes is a short but charming game with a beautiful and unique art style. The puzzles are pretty simple but the atmosphere, music and characters make it worth playing. A great little adventure. 🎚️ Difficulty 🔲 My grandmother could play it ☑️ Easy 🔲 Normal 🔲 Hard 🔲 A challenge to be reckoned 🔲 In the heat of confrontation, (Only PVP games) 🗺️ Graphics 🔲 MS Paint 🔲 Bad 🔲 Meh 🔲 Normal 🔲 Very Good ☑️ An original artistic direction 🔲 Beautiful 🔲…
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →Live NOW with another SHENANIDAY of the PR variety, because we have more game codes to peek at Aiming to complete Gloomy Eyes, then poke at some SCP: Fragmented Minds, and Nippets now that the game's fully released! twitch.tv/kaemsi CWs in the 🧵
neutral · AI labelView post →Cute, cozy game with good puzzles. I found the camera to be annoying and got in the way of playing the game though.
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →✦⏾── LIVE🔴──⏾✦ It's a triple cozy game showcase! For the last game in our showcase we will be diving into this cozy horror! Streaming Gloomy Eyes right NOW! Catch me live right now!🌟 .✦⏾ #vtuber .✦⏾ #envtuber .✦⏾ #GloomyEyes .✦⏾
neutral · AI labelView post →I rarely play things that are new so game of the year awards are not helpful to me 😂 MY game of the year nominees: Alan Wake 2 In Sound Mind Fear the Spotlight Quantum Witch REPO Gloomy Eyes FFXIV 💖 A few current games in there, lmao.
positive · AI labelView post →This game was super well done! The puzzles were fun to try to figure out, though I did end up having to pull up a guide for one of them. I really enjoyed the story and the artstyle! The gameplay kind of reminded me of ilomilo mixed with Little Nightmares for those who are fans of either of those games. Definitely a must play if you'd like a nice short game about a girl and her zombie.
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →This is a beautiful little self-coop adventure with a georgeous art style, cute characters, a somehow funny setting and - as many pointed out already - Tim Burtonesque visuals. I liked almost everything of it, especially the slicing. The little dioramas are beautiful to explore and allow for nice little 30 minute game sessions in between. The only thing I did not like was this somehow forced-on boss battles. They were not challenging, luckily, but still, I think they did not fit in in such a…
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →A fun cozy game with a good story. Definitely re-playable for all the achievements, if you are an achievement hunter. The graphics and soundtrack are also awesome. Definitely worth it.
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →No stream tonight—just resting & vibing before Spooptober madness (totally not 'cause I updated OBS early 😅). Starting Monday: 5 weeks of streams, M–F @ 7 pm! First games: Lake Lady, You Can Save Everyone, Gloomy Eyes, Dredge & Alan Wake! Dixper & heart monitor on! 🎃💀
neutral · AI labelView post →Right out the gate, very well done. this game is a complete labor of love and you could tell it in everything from level design to narration. the story flows really well, the gameplay is thought provoking and engaging. a controller is recommended for optimal game play. Level design very well done there are little nuances to each level that make everything just come alive. the Character design is beautiful and you can't help but fall in love with each character. the narrator gave me a sort of…
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →So there is this puzzle-adventure game, Gloomy Eyes, with dioramas inspired by Tim Burton's universe?! Of course it's our #IndieoftheWeek!
neutral · AI labelView post →A new indie game called Gloomy Eyes is out today. It was originally a VR interactive film narrated by Colin Farrell. Had very Tim Burton vibes. Hopefully the game is good, but as always support these indie games 😊
neutral · AI labelView post →REVIEW: Gloomy Eyes "With plenty of passion driving the game’s design and narration, you’ll no doubt have a decent time..." @untoldtales.bsky.social checkpointgaming.net/reviews/2025...
neutral · AI labelView post →Support the DEVS! Follow and try the games out! Brew - @snowleafstudios.bsky.social Dragon March - @ambystoman.neocities.org TAMASHIKA - quicktequila (x) FUNI RACCOON GAME - @crayondev.ie Gloomy Eyes - @untoldtales.bsky.social Giggleland - kmw_org (x)
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