It’s that time of year again! The fog has crept back into Universal Studios Florida, ushering in ten haunted houses, multiple scare zones, two thrilling shows, and countless screams for Halloween Horror Nights 2025.
This year’s lineup is absolutely stacked and easily one of the most anticipated in HHN history. Step into the twisted universe of The Wyatt Sicks, survive the post-apocalyptic Wasteland of Fallout, and face the mechanical nightmares of Five Nights at Freddy’s. Then, come face-to-face with Jason Voorhees and prepare for chaos with Art the Clown in the grotesque world of Terrifier.
All that is just the beginning — the event also features a slate of original concepts, from a haunted dollhouse and a demon-infested Old West to a harrowing descent into the underworld, and more.
With all this event has to offer, we ranked every house, scare zone, and show to help you navigate it all. Our rankings come from a mix of feedback from the online community and our team here at Orlando Informer. Both groups bring the same elements to the grading scale: an understanding of Horror Nights in years past, an appreciation of the source material, and an unrivaled enthusiasm for Halloween.
Haunted Houses at Halloween Horror Nights 2025
10. Grave of Flesh
It’s your funeral, so dress your best! In Grave of Flesh, you’re not just attending a burial; you’re being pulled into the underworld to face what lies beyond the grave.
The set design is easily one of this house’s biggest strengths. Early on, you glance upward and see your own tombstone, as though you’re staring at it from six feet below. One scene pays visual homage to M.C. Escher’s “Relativity”, with twisted staircases defying logic and space. The entire layout feels disorienting, like you’re being pulled deeper into a surreal nightmare. All the while, mole-like creatures claw their way out of the darkness, reaching for you and trying to drag you even further below.
We especially loved the opening sequence as it set the tone perfectly, immediately immersing you in the sensation of being buried alive. However, some of the scares began to feel repetitive as the house progressed, and it occasionally struggled to maintain its momentum.
While it may not have landed at the top of our list, Grave of Flesh was still a fun and creative original concept that offered a unique take on the afterlife.
9. Fallout
Fallout comes with a massive built-in fanbase, thanks to its long-running video game series and the hit Amazon Prime show (with Season Two premiering December 17). That said, the pressure was on for Universal to deliver, and this house doesn’t hold back.
This maze follows Lucy, a Vault-Dweller from Vault 33, who is forced out of the safety of her secured home and into the harsh Wasteland — a world left desolate by nuclear fallout (hence the name of the franchise). The journey begins on her wedding day, as a brutal massacre unfolds inside Vault 33. From there, you’re thrust into the unforgiving surface world, a landscape crawling with mutants, raiders, and dangers at every turn.
The set design here is a standout, transporting you into post-apocalyptic Los Angeles with impressive accuracy. Locations like the Super Duper Mart are recreated in stunning detail, making it feel like you’ve stepped straight into the Amazon series itself. Along the way, you encounter familiar faces, including The Ghoul and Maximus, adding another layer of authenticity that fans of the show will instantly recognize.
And remember that Season Two mention? Keep your eyes open — there are subtle teases and nods to the upcoming season, offering something extra for die-hard viewers.
It’s clear that this house was crafted with respect for the source material, staying true to the tone, style, and world of Fallout while layering in HHN’s signature scares. While it earns points for its faithful adaptation, it doesn’t quite deliver on pure scare factor, which is why it lands at 9th place in our overall rankings.
8. The Horrors of The Wyatt Sicks
In 2019, Bray Wyatt expressed his hope that his twisted world might one day come to life at Halloween Horror Nights. Though the beloved WWE Superstar tragically passed in 2023, his legacy endures — not just through the haunting presence of The Wyatt Sicks, but also now within the very fabric of HHN history.
The Horrors of The Wyatt Sicks are made up of five personas inspired by the puppets from Bray Wyatt’s infamous Firefly Fun House TV segments. In this house, we encounter each of them as they haunt and taunt guests throughout their journey.
The house begins on the stage of Monday Night Raw, a dream-come-true for wrestling fans, made possible by the partnership between WWE and Universal Orlando Resort. From there, you’re pulled into a tunnel of flickering televisions, descending deeper into Wyatt’s world, including a tour through the Wyatt Family Compound and a detailed recreation of the Firefly Fun House set.
A recurring and powerful symbol throughout the experience is Bray Wyatt’s lantern, once used to lead him to the ring — now guiding us through the darkness of The Horrors of The Wyatt Sicks. And perhaps the most chilling moment of all comes when The Fiend, Bray’s most iconic alter ego, follows you closely behind, whispering his signature invitation: “Let me in.”
It’s a house steeped in heart and horror, serving as both a terrifying experience and a touching homage to one of wrestling’s most visionary and unforgettable minds. You can feel the care and passion poured into every detail, a clear reflection of the respect the creative team holds for both Bray Wyatt’s legacy and his devoted WWE following.
Read the announcement
7. Hatchet and Chains: Demon Bounty Hunters
This house is rooted in Halloween Horror Nights lore that stretches back years before 2025. Slaughter Sinema, a 2018 fan-favorite, brought cult B-movies to life, featuring everything from sacrificial sororities and werewolf bikers to murderous barbers. Its success sparked a wave of follow-ups, inspiring attractions like the 2019 house Yeti: Terror of the Yukon.
That legacy continued with Slaughter Sinema 2 in 2024, which introduced an entirely new lineup of flicks (and topped our rankings last year). Among those concepts was Hatchet and Chains: Demon Bounty Hunters, and in 2025, it finally gets the full haunted house treatment it deserves.
So now that you’re caught up, let’s dive into what we thought of the main feature.
Hatchet, himself a demon, and Chains, a bounty hunter, join forces after an old woman from a small cowtown grows furious about a new train station being built. Naturally, she does what any reasonable citizen would do: summon a horde of lava demons from the local Hell’s Well (visible just outside the house façade). The demons physically possess their victims in three gruesome forms: demon, flesh, and “hodgepodge.” Victims have skin peeling away, flesh dangling, and in some cases, are literally stitched together with metal pieces.
Your journey winds through the town depot, fellowship hall, the Horse-Toothed Saloon, the undertaker’s parlor, and the cemetery. There are clever nods along the way, like windows peering into future locations within the house, and it’s all decorated with trails of blood that coat the floors, walls, and just about everything else.
While Hatchet and Chains: Demon Bounty Hunters is thematically rich and visually striking, it’s admittedly light on scares. We can’t say that we have lost sleep over lava demons under the bed, but the concept was a blast, and the execution made for a fun, well-designed addition to the lineup.
6. Gálkn: Monsters of the North
This original house concept transports you to a remote northern village, where a long-buried evil has returned. A wicked being rises from the dead, unleashing a horde of monstrous creatures that descend on the village in a wave of frost, fury, and blood. As the land freezes over and terror spreads, your only hope is to escape the belly of the beast or become another soul lost to legend.
This house felt like a blend of 2023’s Blood Moon: Dark Offerings, with its village horror, and 2019’s Yeti: Terror of the Yukon, thanks to its snow-covered wilderness setting. You journey through a series of intense scenes as the monsters overtake this community, with each space layering dread and detail.
One of the standout features here is the use of puppetry, which adds a dynamic layer to the scares. Instead of relying solely on traditional scareactor moments, the house mixes in puppet creatures, giving the maze a dynamic rhythm that keeps you guessing.
The setting is chilling, the energy intense, and the frights delivered with variety, making Gálkn a house that truly feels like a northern nightmare come to life and earns a solid spot as #6 in our ranking.
5. Dolls: Let’s Play Dead
In this house, you’re shrunk down to doll size and become the unwilling plaything of a twisted little girl named Lyla — think Sid from Toy Story, but far, far darker.
The oversized props sell the illusion brilliantly: you’re no taller than a crayon or AA battery, and electrical sockets tower overhead. Adding to the interactivity, this house incorporates guest-activated triggers (G.A.T.s) that you can press throughout, similar to last year’s Major Sweets Candy Factory, letting you influence some of the scares firsthand.
The vibe here screams “Weird Barbie” meets twisted toybox terror. Dolls are shaved, melted, dismembered, and warped into grotesque creations that reflect Lyla’s imagination. Navigate through a dollhouse, squeeze through a kids’ toy oven, and even scramble beneath her bed in a desperate attempt to avoid becoming just another broken toy in her collection.
With constantly changing scenes, clever scale tricks, and an overall creepy feel, this house landed higher on our list. There’s something especially unsettling (and oddly relatable) about watching childhood playtime turn so dark. Even if we didn’t play with our toys this way… Lyla definitely did.
4. Five Nights at Freddy’s
Halloween Horror Nights fans have been begging for a Five Nights at Freddy’s house (or FNAF for short) for years, and in 2025, Universal Orlando Resort finally delivered. Inspired by the hit franchise and based on the 2023 Blumhouse film, this house drops guests into the after-hours world of Freddy Fazbear’s Pizzeria, where once-friendly robotic performers turn deadly when the lights go out.
Follow in the footsteps of Mike, the nighttime security guard, as you step through the pizzeria’s entrance. The details are spot-on: classic black-and-white tile, stained glass accents along the booths, and children’s drawings hanging on the walls as a reminder of patrons’ past.
At the heart of it all, Freddy Fazbear, Bonnie, and Chica stand proudly on stage as they perform their cheerful routine (don’t worry, Foxy isn’t far behind), but look closer: as the lights dim, their eyes narrow with an unsettling glare, almost warning you to turn back before venturing deeper into the restaurant’s dark secrets.
The sense of immersion is especially strong thanks to the characters brought to life by the Jim Henson Creature Shop, the same team behind the costumes and mechanical figures in the film. That level of craftsmanship gives this house a cinematic authenticity that fans will appreciate.
That said, what elevates the experience further is the blurring of lines between puppets and scareactors. You’re never quite sure who (or what) is about to move, and that constant uncertainty keeps tension high throughout. The figures are so detailed and well-executed, it often feels like you’re inside a fully operational theme park dark ride, not a haunted house.
That balance of atmosphere and anxiety is what helped this house earn a top spot on our list. And before you exit, don’t miss the Five Nights at Freddy’s 2 poster cleverly placed near the end of this nightmare.
3. Jason Universe
He’s back! For the first time in 10 years, Jason Voorhees makes his return to Halloween Horror Nights, and fans of classic slashers couldn’t be more excited. If you’re new to HHN (and hey, we’ve all been there), you can check out our full breakdown of Friday the 13th’s long legacy at the event over on our blog here.
With a sprawling franchise spanning 12 films and decades of lore, this house had a lot of ground to cover to do this horror icon justice, and it wastes no time throwing you straight into Jason’s brutal and bloody greatest hits.
While the narrative was light, the scares were relentless. Jason remains one of the most intimidating icons in horror, and the house makes full use of his unpredictability — you’re constantly on edge, never knowing where he’ll strike next.
For longtime fans, it was a treat to revisit iconic locations from the franchise, including Camp Crystal Lake, Jason’s infamous shack, and even a cameo from his mother, Pamela Voorhees. These nods elevated the experience and added that extra layer of nostalgia and reverence.
The combination of genuine scares and a faithful tribute to one of horror’s most enduring legends earns Jason Universe a well-deserved third place in our rankings.
2. Terrifier
It’s hard to emphasize just how stacked and highly anticipated this year’s lineup of haunted houses really is. Fans have spent months speculating and making their dream requests, and Terrifier has been near the top of almost every list.
The Terrifier franchise has become the epitome of grotesque, unrelenting horror. Art the Clown, the star at its center with an unhinged grin, has arguably carved his place alongside icons like Freddy Krueger, Michael Myers, and fellow clown Pennywise. That said, it only feels right that he now joins the HHN pantheon. And what better way to welcome him than with his very own chaotic funhouse?
But let’s be real, we know why you’re really here. You’ve heard the rumors about this house, and yes… the water effects are real. We won’t spoil the specifics, but let’s just say: you may want to prepare to get wet. (If you’re not into that sort of thing, don’t worry — there’s a dry path available, too.)
While this may be one of the goriest houses in HHN history, we were surprised by just how fun it is! If you’re rolling through with your scream squad, taking the wet path adds a whole new level of hilarity as you react to the aftermath. The over-the-top nature of the scares, paired with Art’s darkly comedic presence, creates an experience that’s as entertaining as it is shocking. For that balance of chaos, humor, and horror, it earned a higher spot in our rankings.
1. El Artista: A Spanish Haunting
We love it when a house completely transports us, and this one takes us far from 2025 Central Florida to 19th-century Spain. The story follows Sergio Navarro, a multi-talented artist — sculptor, woodworker, writer, and above all, painter. Seeking inspiration, he relocates to La Casa Creación, an isolated Spanish manor that, in true HHN fashion, is haunted by vengeful spirits. At first, it seems like a few extra “roommates” couldn’t hurt… but the ghosts have other plans, using Sergio’s art as a portal into our world and slowly consuming his mind and soul.
Even before entering the manor, you’re met with a massive, wisteria-draped façade, realistic and hauntingly beautiful. Listen carefully to catch ghostly whispers and Sergio’s own voice echoing faintly outside. Once in the manor, you enter Sergio’s studio, where he is hard at work while the spirits begin channeling their power through his paintings.
From there, you wander the conservatory, where the horror escalates as topiaries, gargoyles, and stained glass come to life. In fact, La Casa Creación’s conservatory connects directly to the event-wide narrative — it’s referenced in the Origins of Horror and Masquerade: Dance with Death scare zone and echoed throughout the park. Stained-glass motifs appear across multiple offerings, and Sergio’s voice can be heard narrating both the opening ceremony and playing intermittently throughout the evening, tying this house to the overall theme of Halloween Horror Nights 2025.
Back inside the manor, you wind through the courtyard (yes, more wisteria), library, and crypt, where the house really blurs the line between art and reality. The paintings themselves become unpredictable: subjects step out of their frames, ghosts burst through canvases, and figures seemingly walk through solid walls.
Adding to the immersion, this house engages all the senses. A somber score swells as Sergio loses control, while his journal narration guides you deeper into his unraveling mind. Thanks to the lingering wisteria, a result of a florist who moved into the house with her family seeking creative inspiration, only to fall victim to its curse, the air is even floral-scented, adding one final touch to this beautiful nightmare.
The experience is not only cohesive and beautifully executed but also elevated in both theme and design. It’s richly layered, emotionally resonant, visually stunning, and one of our favorite mazes in recent history.
No surprise here: El Artista: A Spanish Haunting takes the #1 spot on our list.
Halloween Horror Nights Scare Zones 2025
4. The Origins of Horror (Production Central)
The conservatory awaits — a haunting garden of stone and shadow, where monuments pay tribute to the icons and terrors of Halloween Horror Nights 2025. But as you wander through its dilapidated beauty, don’t get too comfortable… you never know what’s lurking behind you.
This scare zone serves as an introduction to your night, with statues honoring icons like Art the Clown, Freddy Fazbear, Jason Voorhees, and more.
While the concept is strong and the atmosphere foreboding, the zone itself feels a little sparse, leaving some wishing for a few more scares to match its potential.
3. Masquerade: Dance with Death (Hollywood)
You’ve received an invitation to an exclusive Halloween masquerade — but beware, you’re not here as a guest. These are vampires, and you’re on the menu.
The area oozes opulence, centered around a massive fallen chandelier — with two very unfortunate souls crushed beneath it. Surrounding the scene are elegant stages adorned with champagne towers, stained glass windows, and ominous gargoyle statues. If you look closely, you might even spot a body or two tucked among the decadence.
The vampires stalking this space are dressed in Victorian attire, their faces hidden behind intricate masks that (almost) conceal their bloodthirsty nature. It’s tempting to be swept up in the glamour, but don’t get too entranced… or you might not make it out of the dance alive.
While this zone, like The Origins of Horror, felt a bit light on scares, we ranked it third thanks to its stunning set design and costuming, which gave it a haunting elegance that stood out from the rest.
2. Mutations: Toxic Twenties (New York)
Step into the aftermath of a mobster getaway gone horribly wrong. They almost escaped — until their car collided with a BuzzCon truck hauling toxic materials. Now, the roaring twenties have taken a dark turn, and the streets are crawling with mutants.
The New York area of the park is the perfect backdrop for this crime… or rather, this scare zone. Universal has layered in additional set pieces like florist stalls and newspaper stands (be sure to read the headlines!) that blend seamlessly with the existing cityscape. One detail we really enjoyed here was that the power to the set piece in the middle of this zone was cleverly disguised as a powerline post.
A central stage features show moments where mobsters and flapper girls fall victim to the glowing green toxins, transforming before your eyes. All the while, a jazzy piano track loops in the background, tying the whole scene together with an unsettling, radioactive rhythm.
It truly feels like you’re wandering the streets of 1920s New York… if the Big Apple had neon-green goo seeping through the cracks and mutated mobsters lurking in the shadows.
1. The Cat Lady of Crooked Lane (Central Park)
Legend has it that the woman at the end of Crooked Lane lures unsuspecting trick-or-treaters down her path, transforming them into cats to add to her ever-growing collection.
In our opinion, this is one of the strongest scare zones Universal Orlando Resort has created in recent years. This area leans more playful than terrifying, with oversized storybook pages of the tale lining the street and toys scattered about — relics from former trick-or-treaters now turned felines. Overhead, a canopy of pumpkins strung in the trees adds an extra layer of classic Halloween charm.
A standout portion of this scare zone is the house façade near Animal Actors on Location!, the home of the famous Cat Lady herself. It extends the depth of the zone and adds a strong visual anchor as she looms outside, scanning the crowd for her next victim. Throughout the night, catch show moments featuring the Cat Lady brewing potions or transforming trick-or-treaters into her feline familiars. If you look closely, you can even spot a few of her cats inside as they leap across furniture.
Plus, as you walk this path from Hollywood toward Springfield: Home of the Simpsons, notice how the zone subtly evolves — with cat toys scaled for humans, and yes, even a few disturbingly oversized hairballs.
Honestly, with its fun theme and character potential, we’d love to see The Cat Lady of Crooked Lane evolve into a full-fledged house one day.
Honorable Mentions
This year, Universal has introduced several street experiences that may not be full-fledged scare zones but still pack plenty of frights and atmosphere.
Death Eaters return to The Wizarding World of Harry Potter – Diagon Alley, casting a dark spell over the cobblestone streets with their menacing presence. Elsewhere, the faint growl of chainsaws in the distance signals the arrival of a roaming horde — one that can strike any time, anywhere, keeping you constantly on edge.
Over in San Francisco, the tone shifts with Club Horror, complete with live DJ and dancers that bring a party vibe to this area. Just down the street, Zombie Car Hops haunt the area around Mel’s Drive-In (or Mel’s Die-In, as it’s renamed for Halloween Horror Nights), serving up classic Americana with an undead twist.
But the one that has everyone on edge? Art the Clown. You never know when he’ll show up… or what kind of chaos he’ll unleash.
Read the scare zone announcement
Halloween Horror Nights 2025 Shows
2. Nightmare Fuel: Circus of Decay
For the first time since 2022, Halloween Horror Nights features two live entertainment offerings, and in second place is the stage show: Nightmare Fuel: Circus of Decay.
Nightmare Fuel has become a Halloween Horror Nights staple, setting the former Fear Factor stage ablaze (literally) year after year. The show blends death-defying aerial feats, explosive pyrotechnics, high-energy choreography, and jaw-dropping illusions into one of HHN’s most adrenaline-pumping performances.
The production continues to evolve with each new edition, and 2025’s installment, Circus of Decay, returns to its familiar dark circus theme as a direct sequel to last year’s performance. The energy is just as relentless, the visuals more polished than ever, and the performers continue to raise the bar with every gravity-defying act, keeping you on the edge of your seat from start to finish.
1. Haunt-O-Phonic: A Ghoulish Journey
Gather around the water’s edge for Haunt-O-Phonic: A Ghoulish Journey, Halloween Horror Nights 2025’s lagoon spectacle, where a ghostly tale unfolds through the crackling narration of an old record player, brought to life with projection mapping and haunting visuals on water screens.
This show is a lighter, more whimsical break from the relentless horrors of the houses and scare zones, leaning into playful, vintage Halloween motifs like mummies, werewolves, skeletons, and black cats. The show evokes the same spirit as 2022’s Ghoulish! A Halloween Tale, and while it may not be the scariest moment of your night, it’s certainly an impressive spectacle worth catching.
Read the entertainment announcement
Learn more about Halloween Horror Nights in our insider’s guide, then discuss it all with 180,000+ other Universal die-hard fans in our Orlando Informer Community on Facebook. And be sure to follow Orlando Informer on TikTok, Threads, Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram for the latest news, tips, and more at Universal Orlando, Walt Disney World, and other Orlando attractions.
