HHN 35 Guide: Best Houses Ranked - Gallivanters Vacations

A sign for Sinners at HHN 35 at Universal studios Orlando

Katy’s Top 5 Haunted Houses at HHN 35: A Fan’s Ultimate Guide

As a travel advisor, I love helping clients plan trips that spark pure excitement. If you want a vacation packed with adrenaline, you need to experience Halloween Horror Nights 35 at Universal Orlando. This year’s lineup features phenomenal scary houses that push creative boundaries.

Let’s dive into my top five houses of the event, ranked from best to fifth place. Spoiler Alert: We will explore some of the unique details that make each one an absolute must-see.

Sinners

Taking the top spot this year is Sinners, an incredible maze based on the hit vampire film. But, if you haven’t seen the movie, like my husband, you can still appreciate the house. Spoiler Alert #2…he rated this his top house as well.

The Experience: You step directly onto opening night at Club Juke, the atmospheric juke joint run by twin brothers Smoke and Stack. As usual, Universal did a fantastic job casting the scareactors that played Smoke and Stack.
Special Elements: The festive party atmosphere quickly shatters when a hive mind of bloodthirsty vampires crashes the event. The brilliant lighting shifts and intense musical cues pull you straight into the movie’s terrifying plot. You dodge frantic clubgoers and snarling predators as you fight to survive until sunrise.
Be ready because its popular and people are willing to wait:

Stranger Things 5

Fans of Hawkins, Indiana will find plenty to love in my second-ranked house. This house has not been particularly well received by the HHN community, but I really enjoyed it.

The Experience: This maze captures the final chapter of the hit Netflix series. You journey right into the heart of the Upside Down as it invades the town.
Special Elements: The scale of the set design feels immense. You dodge roaming Demogorgons, feel the heavy dread of the Mind Flayer, and face off against Vecna in his most menacing lair yet. Universal spared no detail recreating iconic locations, making you feel like the main character in the series finale.

Jack and Oddfellow

Placing third is a brilliant original concept celebrating two legendary icons: Jack and Oddfellow. They did a great job on this throwback to earlier HHN’s. Maybe the buildup was too much, but I really wanted a little bit more from this house. The special effects were absolutely awesome and really pulled me into a creepy carnival feel.

The Experience: This house explores the twisted history between Jack the Clown and Dr. Oddfellow.
Special Elements: Universal leans into classic, disorienting funhouse tricks that fans adore. You navigate a disorienting spinning tunnel and a tilted slanted floor that tests your balance. The custom-built carnival props and chaotic energy deliver a masterclass in classic scare-actor timing.

Cybergoria

Coming in at number four is Cybergoria, a chilling original science fiction nightmare. I expected more gore with a name like Cybergoria. I thought the storyline was pretty cool and creative.

The Experience: Set thousands of years in the future, this house drops you into a cold world completely run by rogue machines.
Special Elements: The futuristic costume design stands out as some of the most creative work in the park. The cold metallic aesthetics, flashing robotic optics, and eerie audio design create an unnerving atmosphere. The machines share a singular, creepy goal: making you live forever, no matter the cost.

Hellraiser

Rounding out our top five list is the legendary HellRaiser.

The Experience: Inspired by the first three films, this house brings the terrifying world of the Lament Configuration box to life.
Special Elements: This house serves as the ultimate gross-out experience of the year in the absolute best way. You journey through the Channard Institute before entering the labyrinth of pure pain. Pinhead and the Cenobites prowl the fog, delivering incredible makeup effects and tactile set pieces that leave a lasting impression. I really liked that there plenty of appearance of Pinhead throughout the house.

Experiencing these incredible houses in person requires the right strategy. Long lines and busy park dates mean you want a strategy guide. I go every year and my clients get my tips, hacks, and a plan thrive during HHN…not just survive.

At Gallivanters Vacations, we design custom travel packages tailored to your schedule and budget. We secure your park tickets, arrange your resort stays, and help you add Express Passes so you maximize every single scare. Check out some our recommendations for HHN foo, drinks, and tips & tricks.

Ready to step into the fog? Contact Gallivanters Vacations today, and let us build your ultimate Universal Orlando getaway!