For this list, we decided only to include levels that are explicitly Halloween-themed, not just ones that have some spooky elements. So that’s why iconic horror-themed levels like Big Boo’s Haunt from Super Mario 64 didn’t quite make the list, though it’s still something gamers may want to consider playing on Halloween.
5 Barbara (What Remains of Edith Finch)
What Remains of Edith Finch is yet another narrative masterpiece from Giant Sparrow. Releasing earlier this year for PC, PS4, and Xbox One, the game earned widespread critical acclaim for its somber tale of a pregnant girl named Edith Finch who visits her family’s old house after the death of her mother. As players explore the house, they learn the story and the untimely death associated with each member of the unlucky Finch family, including the creepy tale of Barbara Finch.
A former child star trying to transition to a role as a Scream Queen, Barbara Finch was the victim of a home invasion on Halloween night. This disturbing segment plays out like a classic horror comic book, with a narrative presentation not unlike the one seen in the anthology film Creepshow from George A. Romero and Stephen King. And if that weren’t enough to capture the Halloween spirit, this section of the game even includes the iconic theme music from the Halloween slasher films.
4 Halloween (Animal Crossing)
Nintendo’s Animal Crossing games celebrate all the major holidays, and Halloween is no exception. Every game in the series, sans Wild World, recognizes the holiday by letting players collect pumpkin-themed items and interact with a strange, pumpkin-headed visitor appropriately named Jack. It remains to be seen if the upcoming Animal Crossing mobile game Pocket Camp will have a Halloween event as well, and with the game not launching until the end of November, it looks like fans will have to wait until next year to find out.
3 Halloween (Bully)
Bully is the story of James “Jimmy” Hopkins as he attends the Bullworth Academy boarding school. In Bully, players follow Jimmy’s progress at the school over the course of a year - attending classes, interacting with other students, and more. Bully’s school year includes various holiday celebrations as well, with the very first chapter of the game featuring a Halloween-themed story mission. In this mission, Jimmy dons a skeleton costume and joins his friend Gary, distastefully dressed as a Nazi, to engage in some typical Halloween pranks and shenanigans. If the rumors are true and Bully 2 is Rockstar’s next game, it will be interesting to see if Halloween makes a comeback in the sequel.
2 Halloween Town (Kingdom Hearts 2)
One of the most iconic Halloween movies also happens to be a Christmas movie. A Nightmare Before Christmas is considered by many to be a classic stop-motion animated film, and Kingdom Hearts 2 gives players a chance to explore that beloved world in video game form.
Series protagonist Sora even gets into the Halloween spirit by dressing as a vampire, and his companions Goofy and Donald Duck dress as Frankenstein’s monster and a mummy, respectively. With the upcoming Kingdom Hearts 3 featuring less Disney worlds than the first two games in the series, we’re not sure if Halloween Town will return in the next game, but here’s hoping we haven’t seen the last of “The Pumpkin King” Jack Skellington.
1 Pumpkin Hill (Sonic Adventure 2)
In Sonic Adventure 2, Knuckles the Echidna must complete treasure hunting missions in a variety of locations. One of the most exciting treasure hunting missions in the game is Pumpkin Hill, which makes its Halloween theme apparent by including colossal jack-o-lantern mountains, a haunted graveyard, and even a ghost train.
While these five Halloween levels are the best to play when munching on your favorite Halloween candy, there have been other notable Halloween-themed levels in video games over the years as well. Double Fine’s Costume Quest, for example, is all about kids trick-or-treating on Halloween and battling it out as giant versions of their costumes. Anyone looking to get into the Halloween spirit should check that game out as well, though be aware that it released to somewhat mixed reviews compared to the other games mentioned on this list.
