Eyes in the Dark: The Curious Case of One Victoria Bloom

Eyes in the Dark: The Curious Case of One Victoria Bloom is a rogue-lite platform game developed by Under the Stairs and published by Gearbox Publishing. Players take on the role of Victoria, who visits Bloom Manor to see her grandfather, only to find him kidnapped by shadow monsters. Armed with a customizable flashlight, players must navigate procedurally generated areas, strategically using light to repel darkness and fend off enemies. The game features a unique blend of action, exploration, and replayability, set in a visually striking environment.

Eyes in the Dark: The Curious Case of One Victoria Bloom – A Comprehensive Review

Introduction: A Beacon in the Shadows

Eyes in the Dark: The Curious Case of One Victoria Bloom is a game that defies expectations. At first glance, it appears to be a charming, gothic platformer with a striking black-and-white aesthetic. But beneath its monochromatic surface lies a meticulously crafted roguelite with deep mechanics, a compelling narrative, and a unique blend of horror and whimsy. Developed by the Zagreb-based indie studio Under the Stairs and published by Gearbox Publishing, this 2022 release is a testament to how a small team can create something both innovative and deeply engaging.

The game’s premise is deceptively simple: Victoria Bloom, a young girl armed with a flashlight and a slingshot, must navigate the procedurally generated halls of her family’s mansion to rescue her kidnapped grandfather. Yet, the execution is anything but simple. Eyes in the Dark is a masterclass in blending roguelite progression with platforming action, all while maintaining a distinct visual and narrative identity. It’s a game that rewards curiosity, punishes recklessness, and invites players to tinker with its systems in ways that feel both satisfying and fresh.

In this review, we’ll dissect every facet of Eyes in the Dark, from its development history to its gameplay mechanics, its narrative depth, and its lasting impact on the roguelite genre. By the end, you’ll understand why this game is more than just a fleeting indie darling—it’s a modern classic in the making.

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Development History & Context: From Game Jam to Gothic Masterpiece

The Birth of a Roguelight

Eyes in the Dark began its life as a game jam project, a humble origin that belies its polished final form. The developers at Under the Stairs, a small studio based in Croatia, initially crafted the game as a proof of concept, focusing on its core mechanic: using light as both a weapon and a tool for exploration. The game’s unique “roguelight” moniker—a portmanteau of “roguelite” and “light”—hints at its dual identity as both a procedurally generated challenge and a game where illumination is key to survival.

Gearbox Publishing, known for its work with indie developers, saw potential in the project and helped shepherd it from a demo to a full release. This partnership was crucial, as it allowed Under the Stairs to refine the game’s mechanics, expand its narrative, and perfect its striking art style. The transition from game jam to commercial release is a testament to the studio’s vision and Gearbox’s faith in the project.

Technological Constraints and Creative Solutions

The game was built using the Unity engine, a choice that allowed the developers to iterate quickly and focus on gameplay rather than engine-specific quirks. However, the team faced challenges in balancing the game’s procedural generation with its handcrafted aesthetic. The mansion’s layout changes with each run, but the rooms themselves are meticulously designed to ensure that the gameplay remains fair and engaging.

One of the most impressive technical feats is the game’s lighting system. The flashlight isn’t just a weapon—it’s a dynamic tool that interacts with the environment in real time. Shadows recede as Victoria shines her light, revealing hidden paths and enemies. The developers had to ensure that this system was both visually impressive and functionally precise, a balance they achieved with remarkable success.

The Gaming Landscape in 2022

Eyes in the Dark arrived at a time when the roguelite genre was already well-established, with games like Hades, Dead Cells, and Risk of Rain 2 setting high standards for procedural generation and replayability. However, the game carved out its own niche by focusing on a unique mechanic—light as a weapon—and a distinct aesthetic that blended gothic horror with Tim Burton-esque whimsy.

The game’s release in July 2022 was met with critical acclaim, but it didn’t achieve the same level of commercial success as some of its contemporaries. This is partly due to its niche appeal—Eyes in the Dark is a game that rewards patience and experimentation, qualities that don’t always align with mainstream tastes. However, its cult following has grown steadily, thanks in part to its charming protagonist, innovative mechanics, and the sheer joy of discovering new synergies between upgrades.

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Narrative & Thematic Deep Dive: A Tale of Light, Legacy, and Loss

The Plot: A Time Loop of Courage and Curiosity

At its core, Eyes in the Dark is a story about legacy. Victoria Bloom is the latest in a long line of inventors, and her journey through Bloom Manor is as much about uncovering her family’s history as it is about rescuing her grandfather. The game’s narrative unfolds through environmental storytelling, brief dialogue snippets, and the gradual unlocking of new areas in the mansion.

The premise is simple: Victoria arrives at Bloom Manor to visit her grandfather, only to witness his kidnapping by shadowy creatures. Armed with a pocket watch that resets time upon her death, Victoria is trapped in a time loop, reliving the moment of her grandfather’s abduction with each failed attempt. This setup allows the game to blend its roguelite mechanics with a narrative that feels both urgent and deeply personal.

Characters: Victoria and the Blooms

Victoria is a standout protagonist—not just because she’s a young girl in a genre dominated by grizzled warriors, but because of her personality. She’s brave but not reckless, curious but not naive, and her dialogue reflects a childlike wonder that never feels forced. Her interactions with the mansion’s inhabitants (or lack thereof) are minimal but effective, with her musings on the environment and her family’s history adding depth to the world.

The Bloom family itself is shrouded in mystery. Through scattered notes and environmental details, players learn that the Blooms have a long history of battling the darkness that now infests their manor. This legacy is both a burden and a source of strength for Victoria, as she uses her family’s inventions—from upgraded flashlights to experimental gadgets—to fight back against the shadows.

Themes: Light vs. Darkness, Legacy vs. Innovation

Eyes in the Dark is a game about dualities. The most obvious is the conflict between light and darkness, a theme that permeates every aspect of the game. Victoria’s flashlight isn’t just a tool—it’s a symbol of hope, a way to push back against the encroaching shadows that threaten to consume her and her family’s legacy.

But the game also explores the tension between legacy and innovation. Victoria is the heir to her family’s inventions, but she’s also a child of the modern era, using her grandfather’s pocket watch to reset time and try again. This theme is reflected in the gameplay itself, where players must balance tried-and-true strategies with experimental builds, constantly adapting to the mansion’s ever-changing layout.

Dialogue and Writing: Whimsy Meets Horror

The game’s writing is a standout feature. Victoria’s dialogue is witty, charming, and occasionally poignant, striking a balance between childlike wonder and steely determination. The game’s tone is a mix of gothic horror and Tim Burton-esque whimsy, a combination that works surprisingly well. The mansion is filled with eerie creatures and unsettling environments, but Victoria’s presence keeps the game from feeling too bleak.

The lack of voice acting is a deliberate choice, one that enhances the game’s silent-film aesthetic. Dialogue appears as text, often accompanied by exaggerated animations that evoke the silent movies of the 1920s. This stylistic choice reinforces the game’s themes of legacy and history, tying Victoria’s journey to a bygone era.

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Gameplay Mechanics & Systems: A Roguelite with a Flashlight

Core Gameplay Loop: Run, Die, Learn, Repeat

Eyes in the Dark follows the classic roguelite formula: players embark on a run through the mansion, die, and start over with new knowledge and upgrades. However, the game distinguishes itself through its unique mechanics and the way it encourages experimentation.

Each run begins in the mansion’s foyer, where Victoria can choose a random power-up from a kiosk. From there, she explores the mansion’s procedurally generated rooms, battling enemies and collecting sparks (the game’s currency) to purchase upgrades. The mansion is divided into nine sections, each with its own theme, enemies, and boss. Players unlock new sections as they progress, with the mansion’s layout changing with each run.

Combat: Flashlight as Weapon

The game’s most innovative mechanic is its use of light as a weapon. Victoria’s flashlight is her primary tool for both exploration and combat. The beam of light damages enemies, but its range is limited, forcing players to get up close and personal with the mansion’s denizens. The slingshot serves as a secondary weapon, offering longer-range attacks but with limited ammo.

The flashlight can be upgraded with different bulbs, each offering unique effects. Some bulbs increase damage, while others change the shape of the beam or add elemental effects. The slingshot can also be upgraded with different types of ammo, from explosive firecrackers to electricity-infused bolts. These upgrades are randomized, ensuring that no two runs feel the same.

Progression: Knowledge and Sparks

Progression in Eyes in the Dark is twofold. First, there’s the immediate progression within a single run, where players collect sparks to purchase upgrades and unlock new areas of the mansion. Second, there’s the meta-progression, where players earn knowledge points upon death. These points can be spent in the mansion’s library to unlock permanent upgrades, such as new starting weapons or additional health.

This dual-progression system ensures that players always feel like they’re making progress, even if they die early in a run. The knowledge system is particularly well-implemented, as it allows players to tailor their experience to their playstyle. Want to start with a more powerful flashlight? Spend your knowledge points on flashlight upgrades. Prefer to focus on mobility? Unlock gadgets that enhance Victoria’s dash or jump.

Boss Battles: Unique Challenges

Each section of the mansion culminates in a boss battle, and each boss is uniquely tied to the mansion’s lore. The bosses are thematically distinct, with attack patterns that reflect their connection to the Bloom family. For example, one boss might be a giant shadowy creature that represents the mansion’s past, while another might be a mechanical monstrosity tied to the family’s inventions.

The boss battles are the game’s high points, offering challenging but fair encounters that test the player’s mastery of Victoria’s abilities. However, some critics have noted that the bosses can feel a bit repetitive after multiple runs, as their attack patterns don’t change significantly between attempts.

Synergies and Builds: The Joy of Experimentation

One of the game’s greatest strengths is its emphasis on experimentation. The randomized upgrades and the ability to combine different effects create a near-infinite number of possible builds. Players might stumble upon a combination that turns Victoria into a lightning-wielding acrobat or a fire-spewing tank. The joy of discovery is a core part of the Eyes in the Dark experience, and the game rewards players who are willing to take risks and try new strategies.

However, the game’s UI could be more intuitive when it comes to tracking synergies. While the upgrades themselves are well-designed, the game doesn’t always make it clear how different effects interact. This can lead to some trial and error, but it’s a minor complaint in an otherwise polished experience.

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World-Building, Art & Sound: A Gothic Masterpiece

Setting: Bloom Manor as a Character

Bloom Manor is more than just a backdrop—it’s a character in its own right. The mansion is a sprawling, ever-changing labyrinth, with each section offering a distinct theme and atmosphere. The foyer is grand and imposing, the garden is overgrown and eerie, and the basement is a nightmarish descent into darkness. The mansion’s design is a masterclass in environmental storytelling, with each room offering clues about the Bloom family’s history and the nature of the darkness that infests it.

The procedural generation ensures that no two runs feel the same, but the mansion’s sections are handcrafted to ensure that the gameplay remains fair and engaging. This balance between randomness and design is one of the game’s greatest achievements.

Art Direction: A Monochromatic Marvel

The game’s art style is its most immediately striking feature. Eyes in the Dark is rendered entirely in black and white, with a high-resolution aesthetic that evokes silent films and gothic illustrations. The contrast between light and shadow is used to stunning effect, with Victoria’s flashlight cutting through the darkness to reveal hidden details and enemies.

The black-and-white palette isn’t just a stylistic choice—it’s a gameplay mechanic. Enemies and environmental hazards are often hidden in the shadows, forcing players to use their flashlight to reveal them. This creates a sense of tension and discovery that’s unique to the game.

Sound Design: Silence and Symphony

The game’s sound design is equally impressive. The mansion is filled with eerie ambient noises, from the creaking of floorboards to the distant howls of unseen creatures. The soundtrack is a mix of haunting melodies and upbeat tunes, reflecting the game’s blend of horror and whimsy.

Victoria’s flashlight and slingshot have distinct sound effects, with the flashlight’s hum and the slingshot’s twang adding to the game’s tactile feel. The lack of voice acting is a deliberate choice, one that enhances the game’s silent-film aesthetic and reinforces its themes of legacy and history.

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Reception & Legacy: A Cult Classic in the Making

Critical Reception: Praise and Criticism

Eyes in the Dark was met with critical acclaim upon its release, with reviewers praising its unique mechanics, charming protagonist, and striking art style. The game holds an 81/100 on Metacritic and an 83% recommendation rate on OpenCritic, with many critics highlighting its innovative use of light as a weapon and its rewarding progression system.

However, the game wasn’t without its detractors. Some critics found the combat to be too simplistic, with enemies that were easy to defeat and bosses that lacked depth. Others noted that the game’s difficulty curve could be inconsistent, with some runs feeling unfairly punishing while others were a breeze.

Commercial Performance: A Niche Success

Despite its critical acclaim, Eyes in the Dark didn’t achieve the same level of commercial success as some of its contemporaries. This is partly due to its niche appeal—the game’s blend of roguelite mechanics and gothic horror isn’t for everyone. However, the game has developed a dedicated fanbase, with players praising its charm, depth, and replayability.

Influence and Legacy: A New Standard for Roguelites

Eyes in the Dark may not have revolutionized the roguelite genre, but it has certainly left its mark. The game’s use of light as a weapon is a unique mechanic that has inspired other developers to think outside the box when it comes to combat systems. Its blend of gothic horror and whimsy has also set a new standard for indie games, proving that a small team can create something both visually stunning and mechanically deep.

The game’s legacy is still being written, but it’s clear that Eyes in the Dark is more than just a fleeting indie darling. It’s a modern classic, a game that rewards curiosity, punishes recklessness, and invites players to explore its shadows with a flashlight in hand.

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Conclusion: A Beacon in the Darkness

Eyes in the Dark: The Curious Case of One Victoria Bloom is a game that defies expectations. It’s a roguelite with heart, a platformer with depth, and a gothic horror story with whimsy. Its unique mechanics, charming protagonist, and striking art style make it a standout in a crowded genre, and its emphasis on experimentation and discovery ensures that no two runs feel the same.

The game isn’t perfect—its combat can feel simplistic at times, and its difficulty curve can be inconsistent. But these flaws are minor in the grand scheme of things. Eyes in the Dark is a game that rewards patience, curiosity, and a willingness to embrace the unknown. It’s a game that invites players to step into the shadows, flashlight in hand, and discover the secrets of Bloom Manor for themselves.

In the end, Eyes in the Dark is more than just a game—it’s an experience. It’s a journey through a cursed mansion, a battle against the encroaching darkness, and a testament to the power of light, legacy, and courage. And in a genre that’s often defined by its punishing difficulty and relentless challenge, Eyes in the Dark stands out as a beacon of hope, a reminder that even in the darkest of places, there’s always a way to shine.

Final Verdict: 9/10 – A Modern Classic