By: Jen Travis, a Marvelous Mouse Travels agent
As a travel planner and devoted fan of Universal Orlando’s Halloween Horror Nights, I look forward to this event all year long. Halloween Horror Nights 34 delivered a mix of original concepts and iconic horror franchises, all brought to life with Universal’s signature storytelling and production value. This year’s lineup featured everything from demonic bounty hunters to killer animatronics, and I had the chance to experience each house firsthand. Here’s how I ranked the haunted houses this year—from the least frightening to the absolute can’t-miss.
Based on the popular video game series, this house drops guests inside the unnerving world of Freddy Fazbear’s Pizza—a seemingly innocent kids' restaurant where animatronics come to life after hours. While the theme was promising, the house leaned heavily on mechanical scares and didn’t fully deliver the suspense or terror I was hoping for. It felt more like a creepy arcade than a haunted attraction. Still, it’s worth noting that the animatronics were crafted in partnership with the Jim Henson Creature Shop to bring to life large scale puppet characters for Freddy, Bonnie, Chica and Foxy which is a fun behind-the-scenes detail for fans.
Set in the post-apocalyptic universe of the Fallout game franchise, this house imagines a world ravaged by nuclear disaster, complete with mutated creatures and remnants of humanity's downfall. The set design was impressive, but I personally didn’t connect with the narrative—likely because I’m not familiar with the source material. The scares felt few and far between, but fans of the game may appreciate the detailed callbacks and immersive world-building. Pay close attention to this house as there are small easter eggs giving guests a preview of the upcoming FallOut: Season 2.
This is one of five original concept scare houses that transports guests to an isolated northern village plagued by supernatural beasts drawn from regional folklore. From the cold fjords emerges a wicked being resurrected, summoning a legion of monsters and demons to terrorize the townspeople. The house showcases mythical monsters While the atmosphere was excellent and the creature design was imaginative, the overall scare factor was on the lighter side. Still, it’s a beautifully executed tribute to legend-based horror.
Set in a demonic version of the Wild West, this house continues the grindhouse-inspired story from last year’s Slaughter Cinema 2. The premise: two unlikely heroes—a demon hunter and a reformed demon—track down evil across a scorched landscape. From saloon shootouts to supernatural showdowns, it’s an immersive and high-concept experience that favors storytelling over jump scares. There is an aroma similar to a smoky BBQ scent being pumped through the air that adds a weirdly sensory layer to this house.
If you’re afraid of dolls, prepare yourself. This house shrinks you to toy-size and lets you loose in a deranged child’s world filled with broken, reanimated playthings. Melted faces, stitched-up marionettes, and possessed dollhouses make this one a delightfully twisted experience. There are 3 guest-triggered scare buttons that give you a more active role in the chaos. The first button I will tell you is not your typical red light blinking button that Universal is known to use. Keep your eyes peeled. (Hint: Its in the very first room you enter) This house is creepy and creative—it’s the type of house that will fuel nightmares in the best way possible.
This house blends gothic horror with artistic madness. Set in the 1800s, it tells the story of Sergio Navarro, a tormented painter haunted by the spirits of artists before him. As his work becomes a gateway for the dead, the line between inspiration and possession blurs. Rich in detail and atmosphere, El Artista is one of the most beautifully designed houses of the year. Pay close attention—you’ll want to soak in every element of this visual masterpiece. For the first time ever, Universal is using a special effect that gives the illusion of a ghost walking through a solid wall.
A spiritual successor to Monstruos: The Monsters of Latin America, this house begins at your own funeral and descends into a grotesque underworld ruled by flesh-devouring creatures. If you remember the gravestone labeled “You” from last year, this is the continuation of that chilling concept. With unrelenting jump scares and a terrifyingly tight layout, Grave of the Flesh is a grim and gory standout—especially for longtime HHN fans. This house will truly test every sense and fear you have including the fear of being buried as you are hunted by flesh eating monsters.
I wasn’t sure what to expect from a haunted house based on a wrestling storyline, but this one completely surprised me. You enter the twisted world of Bray Wyatt and his terrifying alter-egos, including Uncle Howdy and Abby the Witch. The house blends theatricality with true creep factor, and the scareactors went all-in on their performances. You don’t have to be a WWE fan to appreciate the eerie energy and immersive design. While there are several easter eggs in this house there is also some of Bray Wyatt's clothing used in this house as well. Fun Fact: While Alexa Bliss isn’t officially part of the Wyatt Sicks stable, located in the Halloween Horror Nights house is a scare actor in her likeness—as well as her doll, Lilly who makes an appearance swinging on a swing.
Art the Clown makes his gruesome HHN debut with a house that captures the shocking, over-the-top violence from the Terrifier films. Every room features a grotesque set piece, some pulled directly from the movies, and the level of detail is stunning in its brutality. There's even a choice between two different exit paths—one dry and one blood-soaked known as the "Blood Bath" path. It’s relentless, gory, and somehow fun in its twisted humor. The Universal Creative team used a variety of scents to replicate some truly nasty smells featured in some of the most grotesque scenes from the movies. Plus, keep an eye out: Art himself roams outside the house, so don’t let your guard down once you leave as there are truly no limits to where Art can go.
Universal is paying homage to the 45th Anniversary to the Friday the 13th Franchise with this scarehouse. This was my most anticipated house of the year—and it completely delivered. This house was created and designed by the same team that brought you Insidious last year and it was full of intensive frights and scares, Jason Voorhees takes center stage in a terrifying tribute to the first eight Friday the 13th films. From the woods to Camp Crystal Lake and beyond, you’ll relive some of Jason’s most iconic kills in a house that perfectly captures the slasher vibe. The transitions between scenes are smooth, and Jason is everywhere—just when you think you’ve escaped, he’s back. For fans of classic horror, this is a dream come true.
Halloween Horror Nights 34 continues Universal Orlando’s legacy of top-tier horror entertainment. With a balanced mix of original houses and franchise favorites, there’s something to scare—and impress—every kind of horror fan. Whether you're planning your first visit or returning for another round of screams, this year’s event is well worth the trip.
Need help planning your HHN adventure? Contact Jen orMarvelous Mouse Travels to help you customize a Universal Orlando vacation package, including park tickets, hotel stays, and even RIP tours. We handle the logistics—so you can focus on surviving the night.
