October brings horror films, spooky games, elaborate decorations, giant skeletons and more than a few plays of Monster Mash. Halloween night, however, ultimately comes down to one thing: candy.
Every sweet treat is better than receiving nothing, but quality varies considerably. Some are disappointing, while others feel like a perfect little reward in a brightly wrapped package. To settle the argument, we used a deliberately elaborate—if not genuinely scientific—process to rank 38 different Halloween candies from the least appealing to the best.
The result is a candy countdown designed for anyone planning a trick-or-treat haul, sorting through a mixed lolly bowl or debating which treats deserve premium status. Like choosing an arcade machine, the best choice depends on personal taste, but a careful ranking can still make the decision easier.
The Halloween candy ranking
This list was originally published on 23 October 2024. It has been updated for 26 October 2026 to include even more candy, bringing the ranking to 38 treats.
The project was assembled by the author and fellow writer Ethan Gach, using a highly complicated and supposedly scientific tasting process. The goal was simple: identify the Halloween sweets that fall short and the ones that deliver the most satisfying sugar rush.
While you work through the results, consider browsing RETROCADE’s arcade news and features for another kind of entertainment, or use the arcade machine buying guide when you are ready to plan a games room.
From worst to best
The full ranking weighs the appeal of each treat across the complete 38-candy lineup, moving from the sweets most likely to disappoint to the ones worthy of being claimed first from the bowl. Keep reading to find out which Halloween candy takes the top spot.
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