Haunted Hotel: Season 2

Most haunted hotel stories are about guests who want to leave. Haunted Hotel is about a family that stays, no matter how many demons, witches and angry spirits show up at the front desk. The adult animated comedy from Matt Roller, a writer on Rick and Morty, became a surprise hit when its first season arrived in September 2025. Haunted Hotel: Season 2 checked in on Netflix on October 9, 2026, just in time for spooky season, with eight new episodes released at once.

The second season has drawn strong reviews, along with a little worry from fans about what comes next. Here's what the show is about, what's new and whether it's worth booking another stay.

Welcome to the Undervale

The show is set at the Undervale Hotel, which Netflix describes as the world's most haunted hotel. Katherine, voiced by Eliza Coupe, is a single mom who inherits the place from her late brother, Nathan. The catch is that Nathan never really left. He's now a cheerful ghost, voiced by Will Forte, who helps her run the hotel and deal with its undead residents.

Katherine's two kids live there too. Ben, voiced by Skyler Gisondo, is a teenager with some strange interests, and Esther, voiced by Natalie Palamides, is a younger girl with a talent for chaos. And then there's Abaddon, voiced by Jimmi Simpson, an ancient demon trapped in the body of a little boy, who at the end of season one chose his found family over his demonic powers.

Netflix's logline sums it up: after inheriting a hotel from her late brother, a single mom moves in with "his good-natured ghost and high-maintenance guests who will never check out."

The team behind it

Roller created the show and runs it, describing his job as "head concierge." The executive producers include Dan Harmon, co-creator of Rick and Morty, along with Chris McKenna and Steve Levy. The animation comes from Titmouse, the studio behind Big Mouth and Scavengers Reign, with Erica Hayes as supervising director.

The first season did well. According to What's on Netflix, it drew 1.8 million views in its opening week and reached the daily top 10 in 56 countries, including the U.S., Canada and the U.K.

What's new in season 2

The new season keeps the format that worked the first time, a mix of standalone monster-of-the-week episodes and ongoing mysteries, while digging deeper into the family.

Nathan is at the center of a lot of it. What's on Netflix's Rafael Motamayor wrote that Forte's character finally gets "the spotlight he deserves," including a romance storyline that adds both sadness and awkward comedy. One Nathan-focused episode set around a lighthouse was singled out by JoBlo as especially moving, and the finale includes flashbacks to his early days running the hotel.

Other episodes push the kids into new situations. Ben and Abaddon are forced to spend time together, and Katherine has to rethink her parenting after Esther accidentally astral projects. A mystery from the first season, the identity of the "attic ghost," is finally solved, and that character joins the main cast.

There's also a newcomer, Shayna, voiced by Natalie Morales. And the season has fun with horror and fantasy clichés. According to But Why Tho?, episode 3, "The Witch," turns a classic horror setup into escalating absurdity, and episode 6, "Dante Crowe," pokes fun at shows like Supernatural with a brooding, larger-than-life newcomer.

Laughs with a sad streak

What sets Haunted Hotel apart from a lot of adult cartoons is how much it cares about its characters. Underneath the jokes, it's a show about grief. Katherine is running her dead brother's business. Nathan is a ghost who still has unfinished business of his own.

Roller has said the show is about "emotional truths," and season 2 seems to lean into that even more. But Why Tho?'s LaNeysha Campbell wrote that Nathan's cheerful exterior hides a darker pain, and that death hasn't given him the closure he needed. That gives the season a bittersweet edge, especially as it starts to ask whether Nathan is ready to move on.

What critics said

The reviews have been warm. What's on Netflix gave the season 3.5 out of 5 and called it "a phenomenal return that masterfully blends horror homages with sitcom heart." Motamayor also praised Titmouse as "one of the best American animation studios working today."

But Why Tho? scored it 8.5 out of 10, saying the show "returns, hitting a familiar stride, but with more depth." Campbell also praised the cast for "balancing the ridiculousness" of the show's world. Collider went even further, with a headline calling it Netflix's best dark comedy yet.

The criticisms are small. Both But Why Tho? and JoBlo felt Shayna is underused, appearing in too few episodes to make much impact. JoBlo gave the season a 7 out of 10 and felt it "does less with the tools at its disposal" than it could have.

Is this the last stay?

This is the question on a lot of fans' minds. The second season is shorter than the first, and JoBlo's Steve Seigh wrote that it "feels more like a farewell than inviting guests to book an extended stay." He also noted that the finale plays like a series ending.

Netflix hasn't announced a third season. Roller has been open about the uncertainty. Reacting to fans' fears about adult animation on the platform, he said, "This looks great. Can't wait for Netflix to cancel it." He's also been clear about what decides it: "If people watch, we will get to make more."

So if you want more Haunted Hotel, watching is the best way to vote.

Should you watch it?

If you enjoyed season one, yes. The second season gives you more of the same jokes and scares, with a deeper focus on Nathan and the family.

If you're new, start with season one. The show works episode by episode, but the ongoing stories and the characters' growth make much more sense if you watch in order.

It's rated TV-14, with plenty of adult humor and some spooky moments, so it's best for teens and adults. And if you're a fan of Rick and Morty, Big Mouth or What We Do in the Shadows, it'll feel right at home on your watchlist.

I'll admit the found-family side of this show is what gets me. A demon who chose a family over his powers and a ghost who keeps helping his sister even after death. That's a sweet idea hiding inside a very silly cartoon.

So grab some candy and turn off the lights, then check in for all eight episodes. Just be careful with the minibar. At the Undervale, you never know who else is drinking from it.