Gloomy Eyes Transforms Award-Winning Animated Short into Cozy Horror Game

If you’ve got a soft spot for spooky-but-sweet stories, Gloomy Eyes should be on your radar. First released in 2019 as an animated VR short film narrated by none other than Colin Farrell (The Batman’s Penguin), the original experience charmed its way through the film festival circuit, picking up accolades at Sundance, SXSW and Raindance.

It was highly praised for its beautiful Tim Burton-inspired visual aesthetics and innovative VR technology.

Now, Gloomy Eyes is transforming into a full-fledged game, expanding the world and characters into an interactive adventure that blends cozy horror with heartfelt storytelling.

Developed by 3DAR and published by ATLAS V, Gloomy Eyes is being reimagined as a “self-co op adventure” for PC. You’ll take control of two characters: Gloomy, a lonely zombie boy, and Nena, a brave human girl, as they navigate a world where the sun no longer shines and the dead walk the earth.

You’ll switch between the two characters to solve environmental puzzles and overcome obstacles, each of them offering unique abilities that help the other progress. Every level is built as a handcrafted, rotatable diorama that gives the world a stop-motion storybook feel with a dark, whimsical twist.

If you’re not a fan of jump scares, you’ll be glad to know that Gloomy Eyes avoids them entirely. There is no gore and no sudden frights, just a hauntingly bleak atmosphere that delivers all the spooky charm without the panic attacks.

Gloomy Eyes releases later this year for PC, PS5, Xbox Series X|S and the Switch.

A demo is now available on Steam, along with a reveal trailer that sets the tone for what’s to come.