If there’s one thing the gays love more than a triple-threat pop girlie, it’s a decuple-threat Halloween spooktacular. Universal Orlando Resort is back once more with its 34th annual Halloween Horror Nights. Prepare to be shook!
Taking place over select nights from 28 August to 2 November, HHN 34 is set to be bigger and more bloodcurdling than ever before. Guests will encounter 10 all-new haunted houses, based on gruesome IP and haunting original concepts; four scare zones that bring the horror to the streets; a circus and a light show that will knock your socks off; and two all-new street experiences, zombie carhops at Mel’s Die In and undead DJs at Club Horror.
As if there weren’t enough reasons to visit Universal Orlando Resort, with theme parks, hotels and restaurants galore – including the five immersive worlds that make up their incredible brand-new Epic Universe – Halloween Horror Nights is the bloody cherry on top of the viciously delicious cake.
This August, Gay Times was invited to explore the haunts for ourselves. Here are all ten houses ranked, from spooky to down-right terrifying…
10) Five Nights at Freddy’s
Can you survive Five Nights at Freddy’s? Kicking off the list, Universal perfectly recreates Freddy Fazbear’s Pizzeria, right down to the unsettling animatronics of Freddy, Bonnie, Chica and Foxy (chillingly recreated in collaboration with Jim Henson’s Creature Shop). Whether you’re familiar with the games, films or this is all new to you, it’s sure to give you the creeps – however, it just doesn’t pack the biggest punch.
9) Fallout
The vaults can’t save you in this post-apocalyptic wasteland inspired by the classic game and Prime Video’s hit series. Brought to life with impressive sets and grotesque irradiated ghouls, Universal and Amazon worked closely together to bring the game to life with easter eggs for eagle-eyed fans, as well as a teaser for the show’s second season.
8) Dolls: Let’s Play Dead
Perhaps the campest of all this year’s attractions, the Dolls house welcomes you to the toybox of terror. You’ll shrink down to doll-sized proportions and run for your life as you witness the unnatural creations of a twisted little girl. Burnt and mutilated playthings stalk you at every turn as you try to escape this house, where you control some of the scares thanks to a few strategically placed buttons. Will you come play with us?
7) Grave of Flesh
Ever wondered what it would be like to attend your own funeral? Look no further than Grave of Flesh. This one gets points for sheer gross-out factor – the gore is unrelenting, with skin masks and rotting cadavers to name but a few. Get ready to enter your grave and pass through the gates of the underworld as claustrophobia-inducing soil walls begin to cave in. With SFX makeup and costuming that feels a bit too real, this is not for the faint of heart.
6) Hatchet and Chains: Demon Bounty Hunters
All hell is breaking loose in this Old West town. Possibly the closest any of the actors will get to you in all of the HHN houses or scare zones, Demon Bounty Hunters sees lava demons trying to possess everyone while melting everything in their path. This spaghetti-western-turned-supernatural-horror is campy fun that will leave you shaking.
5) Jason Universe
Evil doesn’t stay dead as the iconic Jason Voorhees makes his return to Camp Crystal Lake. Inspired by a number of the Friday the 13th films, this nightmare-come-to-life sees a different Jason around every corner – culminating in a terrifying jump scare-heavy corridor chase that will leave you gasping for air. This is a house that fans of the classic slasher will be sure to eat up.
4) El Artista: A Spanish Haunting
One of the year’s strongest original concepts, this hauntingly beautiful 19th-century Spanish manor becomes the canvas for an artist possessed by his own work. Immerse yourself within the world of Sergio Navarro, with striking visuals and ghostly brushstrokes that bleed into reality. This house could easily rank at number one if this list was based on worldbuilding and set design alone.
3) Gálkn: Monsters of the North
Try to escape the belly of the beast in this original concept rooted in Norse mythology. Another visually stunning house, Gálkn stands out with its detailed wintry sets and folklore-inspired creatures that break out through the blizzard and build up to a terrifying finale. If you’re into the stuff of legend, this is the one for you. And if not, the house’s icy temperature – which lovingly recreates the Nordic climate – makes this a welcome break from the Florida heat, even if you will be petrified in the process.
2) Terrifier
Undoubtedly the most talked about house of the year, Terrifier more than lived up to its name. Art the Clown is everywhere, grinning in the shadows, jumping out from where you least expect him and recreating iconic kills from all three of Damien Leone’s iconic slashers (alongside a few new ones that will live on in your nightmares). The funhouse aesthetic combined with buckets of gore makes this one of the scariest IP-based houses Universal has pulled off in years. With 35 bodies and six gallons of blood, prepare for carnage. Are you brave enough to take on the bloodbath?
1) The Horrors of The Wyatt Sicks
Fear is the main event at the surprising number one entry on this list. The Wyatt Sicks’ dark and theatrical lore translates perfectly into haunted house form, with cultish rituals, unsettling chants and disturbing visuals – complete with eerie gusts of wind that were much scarier than they should’ve been – which built a ridiculous amount of tension. It’s immersive, creative and left us completely rattled in the best way, with some absolutely top-tier jump scares. The Wyatt Sicks edges out the competition not by being louder, but by being smarter. Even if, like myself, you’re neither a fan of WWE or wrestling in general, this is one you definitely don’t want to miss.
Of course, this ranking is purely personal opinion – we highly recommend you check out the scares for yourself. Whether you’re here to see familiar faces like Freddy Fazbear and Jason Voorhees, or to step into worlds you’ve never experienced before, Halloween Horror Nights 2025 proves Universal is still at the top of their scare game when it comes to blending blockbuster IP with ambitious originals. HHN 34 is bigger, bolder and bloodier than ever.
Why not grab your ghoulfriends and splash out on a guided RIP walking tour, complete with Priority VIP entry to haunted houses and participating attractions. (Huge shout-out to Tati and Grace for being the best guides a gay could ask for!)
Beyond the houses, HHN 34 also boasts scare zones, including The Origins of Horror, Masquerade: Dance with Death and The Cat Lady of Crooked Lane, alongside standout shows such as Nightmare Fuel: Circus of Decay and the lagoon spectacular Haunt-O-Phonic: A Ghoulish Journey. And don’t skip the themed food and drinks to fully immerse yourself in the horror – this year’s menu includes a Five Nights at Freddy’s cupcake and Terrifier’s Clown Café Bloody Popcorn.
For more information about Universal Orlando’s Halloween Horror Nights and to purchase tickets, visit www.universalorlando.com/halloween.
Universal Orlando Resort has teamed up with Virgin Atlantic Holidays to offer some scarily good deals this spooky season. Don’t sleep on it (or maybe do, if you want nightmares).
7 nights in Orlando from £1383 per person
7 nights in Orlando with Virgin Atlantic Holidays, including scheduled Virgin Atlantic Economy flights direct from London Heathrow to Orlando. Room-only accommodation at Loews Sapphire Falls Resort. Price is based on two adults travelling and sharing a Standard 2 Queen Room and includes all applicable taxes and fuel surcharges, which are subject to change. Price is based on a departure on 17 September 2025.
With Virgin Atlantic Holidays, customers can reserve Universal hotels up to 730 days in advance and access Virgin Atlantic flights before they go on general sale. While Virgin Atlantic flights go on sale 11 months ahead, Virgin Atlantic Holidays customers can book them up to 12 months in advance as part of their package. They can also pre-select their seats free of charge from seven days before departure or choose to pay and select seats at the time of booking.
Customers benefit from the Attraction Ticket Price Promise (matching any cheaper official price) and pay no extra deposit on tickets purchased via Virgin Atlantic Holidays. Backed by expert travel agent knowledge and voted Number 1 to Florida from the UK, Virgin Atlantic Holidays is ABTA-membered and ATOL-protected. Book online at www.virginatlantic.com/holidays, via the Customer Centre on 0344 557 3859 or at any of its 35 retail stores.
Prices subject to change and availability. Virgin Atlantic Holidays terms and conditions apply.
More
