Halloween Horror Nights 2025 promised to be one of Universal’s biggest years yet, and for the most part, it delivered. Some haunted houses had guests screaming and clutching the nearest stranger, while others fizzled out with weak scares or confusing storylines. That’s always been the charm of HHN—you never quite know which house will blow you away and which one will leave you shrugging as you head to the next. This year had no shortage of creativity, but it also had its fair share of letdowns.Before diving into the rankings, let’s quickly set the stage for what HHN really is.Credit: Universal / ITMWhat is Halloween Horror Nights?Halloween Horror Nights is Universal Orlando Resort’s annual Halloween spectacular, where the park transforms into a nightmare-filled playground. Guests wander through scary zones packed with terrifying actors and experience elaborately themed haunted houses. These houses often feature original Universal creations alongside fan-favorite franchises from movies, TV, and even video games.Universal raises the bar each year in set design, effects, and scare tactics. But with ten houses on the lineup, not everyone can take the crown. Here’s how they stacked up this year.Credit: Sarah Larson, Inside the Magic#10. Horrors of the Wyatt SicksThis one had plenty of buzz, but the concept fell flat. The idea of cult-like wrestlers going rogue—killing camera operators, attacking crew members, and torturing other wrestlers—sounded bizarrely intriguing. Still, in execution, it came off as more silly than scary. Yes, the cult members had unsettling moments, but the overall storyline felt like something out of a parody rather than a nightmare.Credit: Universal#9. Grave of FleshThis house had potential, but it simply didn’t stand out. The concept of being dragged into your own grave was chilling on paper, and there were a couple of decent jump scares, but the experience never reached the level of detail or tension that other houses pulled off. For many guests, it was forgettable—a quick stroll rather than a terrifying plunge.Credit: Universal#8. Dolls: Let’s Play DeadAt first, this one seemed promising. Guests were shrunk down to toy-size, navigating oversized props that gave an incredible sense of scale. But the actors dressed as odd-looking dolls weren’t intimidating in the slightest. The scares lacked intensity, and worse, they were predictable.Instead of being stalked by vengeful, evil toys with a Child’s Play vibe, visitors saw reenactments of what the dolls’ owner had done. A stronger storyline could’ve elevated the story, but the end result was more “meh” than menacing.