The 10 BEST Halloween-Themed Video Game Levels
Category
😹
FunTranscript
00:00Welcome to Mojo Plays, and today we're counting down our picks for the top 10 Halloween-themed
00:12levels.
00:34For this list, we'll be looking at levels from non-horror games that best encapsulate
00:38the spirit of All Hallows' Eve.
00:40Which level brings out your Halloween spirit?
00:42Let us know in the comments.
00:44Before we begin, we publish new content all week long, so be sure to subscribe and ring
00:49the bell to get notified about our latest videos.
01:03To commemorate the spooky Grand Prix, this kart racing remaster introduced a brand new
01:07track that screamed Halloween.
01:10The track shines a spotlight on Nina Cortex, Neo Cortex's gothic niece.
01:15Or is she his daughter?
01:16Either way, Nina's nightmare is a gateway into the character's warped imagination.
01:29Literally the race commences with a levitating key unlocking a gate, sending racers on a
01:33petrifying path made up of decrepit windmills, dark woods, and a mansion modeled after Nina's
01:39twisted personality.
01:40Also present is the pumpkin lord who will squash you with his tree-like legs if you're
01:44not careful.
01:45With the excitement of a roller coaster and an appropriately spooky atmosphere, Nina's
01:49nightmare delivers the thrills in more ways than one.
01:52All that's missing is a hearse.
01:59Level 7, The Simpsons Hit and Run.
02:10Whenever Kang and Koto show up, you know that the Simpsons are in store for a scare.
02:15In the seventh and final level of this game, Springfield is given a treehouse of horror
02:19makeover.
02:20Taking place on October 31st, Homer must thwart the aliens while also dealing with a zombie
02:25apocalypse.
02:32As fun as the missions are, the best part of this level is simply exploring this unique
02:36version of Springfield which has become littered with Halloween-themed references and visual
02:41gags.
02:42Krusty Burger is now Zombie Burger, the Quick E-Mart has been revamped as the Spooky Mart,
02:47and on the house you can even find graffiti reading, No TV Make Homer Go Crazy.
02:51Almost every bit as memorable as Homer's last trip to the third dimension.
03:02Ghostly Garden, Pac-Man World.
03:11Ghosts have been a staple of the Pac-Man franchise ever since his arcade days, so when the character
03:15made a leap to the 3D platformer genre, it only made sense for the game's final world
03:20to possess a haunting vibe.
03:22While we could have singled out any of the four levels that make up Toc-Man's Mansion,
03:26Ghostly Garden is the most notably Halloween-y.
03:36Ghosts aren't the only obstacle that Pac-Man has to worry about in this graveyard-like
03:40setting.
03:41Giant bats, skeletons, and floating coffins are also scattered throughout.
03:45The falling leaves in the air also give the level a genuine autumn feeling.
03:48While you won't find any candy, you'll come across plenty of fruit, which Pac-Man
03:52prefers to munch on anyway.
04:01Pumpkin Hill, Sonic Adventure 2.
04:11You can run, but you can't hide from the ghosts that occupy Pumpkin Hill.
04:15On his quest to collect the Master Emerald's missing pieces, Knuckles finds himself gliding
04:19through a mountain range where the hilltops are shaped like jack-o'-lanterns.
04:23The setting's sun in the background and the illuminated pumpkin heads give the level an
04:27atmosphere that's creepy yet cool.
04:35The same can be said about the level's theme song, A Ghost's Pumpkin Soup, which compliments
04:39Knuckles' fearless attitude and the eerie sentiment of Halloween.
04:43For whatever reason though, King Boom-Boo doesn't attack Knuckles until later in the game.
04:54Subcon Forest, A Hat in Time.
05:02This nostalgic gem recaptured the magic of classic 3D platformers with several themed
05:07worlds to explore.
05:08One of the areas that Hat Kid travels to is Subcon Forest, which is crawling with creatures
05:13right out of a campfire story.
05:20The scene-stealer is Snatcher, a mysterious figure who always has a contract ready.
05:25You'll have to make a few deals with this devilish character to progress, requiring
05:29Hat Kid to do a variety of tasks, the creepiest of which takes Hat Girl to Queen Vanessa's
05:34Manor, where you'll be hiding under furniture in fear.
05:37It all culminates in a boss battle against the Snatcher, who should have worn his thinking
05:41cap when he messed with Hat Kid.
05:51Creepy Castle, Donkey Kong 64.
06:03Second only to the DK rap, Creepy Castle is the most horrifying part of this N64 game.
06:09Everything about Creepy Castle has an old-school horror vibe to it, right down to the perpetual
06:14dark and stormy night.
06:15The level comes complete with all of the hallmarks you'd expect from a haunted castle, including
06:20a library with flying books, a ballroom with a giant chandelier, and a museum full of macabre
06:25items.
06:33Of course, the best parts of Donkey Kong games are always the mine cart rides, and this is
06:37where Creepy Castle truly shines.
06:40With gravestones popping up and a giant Kremling demon trying to snatch you around every turn,
06:45this challenge only amplifies everything that makes a traditional mine cart ride great.
06:57Mad Monster Mansion, Banjo-Kazooie.
07:05Before there was Creepy Castle, developer Rare took us to Mad Monster Mansion.
07:10Considering that Gruntilda is a wicked witch, it makes sense that one of the worlds in her
07:14lair would have a Halloween theme.
07:16This haunted mansion is overrun with strange creatures, such as a slumbering ghost, living
07:21gravestones, and a ghostly hand that plays the pipe organ.
07:33It's not all gloom and doom, however.
07:35Mumbo Jumbo gets to try out arguably his most adorable transformation spell, turning you
07:40into a pumpkin that's small enough to flush down the toilet.
07:43Pumpkin Banjo-Kazooie would fit in well with the Pumpkin Brothers from Moody Mays Marsh
07:47in Yooka-Laylee.
07:56The Lich Yard, Shovel Knight.
08:06Shovel Knight is a love letter to the side-scrolling platforms of the 8-bit era.
08:10The Lich Yard level in particular feels deeply indebted to Castlevania on the NES.
08:15Instead of Simon Belmont's whip, though, you use a shovel to fend off the ghosts and
08:19ghouls that go bump in the night.
08:28This level is at its most intense whenever Shovel Knight finds himself shrouded in darkness,
08:33relying on flashes of lightning to guide the way.
08:36Instead of menacing music, the Lich Yard features an electrifying track that makes you want
08:40to charge headfirst into an army of Tadvolt and Boneclangs to take on the Spectre Knight.
08:45It's a level that really brings out the fun side of being scared.
08:56Halloween Town, Kingdom Hearts series.
09:06Of all the Disney worlds in the first Kingdom Hearts, none stand out quite like Halloween
09:10Town.
09:11Although Halloween Town is computer animated here, the programmers capture the stop-motion
09:15style of the 1993 animated feature.
09:18As Sora, Donald and Goofy team up with Jack Skellington, they come across a few familiar
09:22locals, from Halloween Town Square and Dr. Finkelstein's lab to the Curly Hill.
09:32All the while, we're treated to a catchy instrumental version of This is Halloween.
09:36Plus, there are two Oogie Boogie boss battles, one in his torture chamber and another that
09:41sees him fuse with his manner.
09:43In Kingdom Hearts 2, we not only get to revisit Halloween Town, but also follow Jack to Christmastown,
09:50bringing together the best of both worlds.
09:58Big Boo's Haunt, Super Mario 64.
10:10Luigi may be the expert on haunted mansions, but Mario was the first to boldly venture
10:15into Big Boo's Haunt.
10:17Although Mario games are known for being colorful and light-hearted, this level has an unexpected
10:21creep factor to it.
10:23The chilling music makes it feel as if a ghost is hovering right beside you, whispering into
10:27your ear.
10:35The level is remembered for many things, such as the ghost hunt, the merry-go-round room,
10:40and those giant eyeballs that won't stop staring at you.
10:43Yet, there's one particular element that secured Big Boo's Haunt on our top spot,
10:48the mad piano.
10:49We'll never forget the first time that seemingly ordinary piano moved, breaking out those razor-sharp
10:55teeth.
10:56Forget Bowser, this is what terror looks like.
11:06Check out these other great clips from Mojo Plays, and be sure to subscribe and ring the
11:10bell to get notified about our latest videos.