October is synonymous with spooky festivities, from horror movie marathons and haunted game nights to elaborate house decorations and the perennial favorite, "Monster Mash." But at the heart of Halloween lies its most treasured tradition: candy. While any sweet is a welcome sight, not all confections are created equal. Some are universally beloved, while others fall disappointingly short.
In an effort to settle this age-old debate, Kotaku writers undertook a complex and highly scientific process to rank 40 different candies, identifying the ultimate Halloween treat and its less fortunate counterparts. This ranking, originally published on October 23, 2024, has been updated with additional candies as of October 26, 2026, to provide a more comprehensive analysis.
The review encompassed a wide array of popular candies, including well-known names such as Milky Way, KitKat, Tootsie Rolls, and Starbursts. The meticulous ranking process aimed to discern the true hierarchy of Halloween sweets, separating the heavenly from the decidedly less so.