A recent study has revealed that Spider-Man is the most popular video game character costume for Halloween this year. The study, conducted by the online casino website Nieuwe Casino, analysed search data from over 120 video game characters to determine which are the most sought-after for Halloween costumes.
By combining various keywords such as “Halloween costume”, “outfit”, and “makeup” with popular video game characters, the data was then cross-referenced using the search tool Ahrefs to assess average monthly search volumes over the past 12 months. The study identified Spider-Man, Mario, and Princess Peach as the top choices, based on thousands of search queries from those looking for costume inspiration.
Leading the rankings, Spider-Man attracted an impressive 87,530 average monthly searches. Although widely recognised as a comic book hero, Spider-Man has appeared in 39 video games, most recently in Marvel’s Spider-Man 2, released in 2023. The classic red and blue suit, complete with webbing and white eye patches, remains a popular and easily recognisable option for fans of the web-slinging superhero.
| Top 10 most popular Halloween video game costumes | ||
| Rank | Character | Average monthly searches |
| 1 | Spider-Man | 87,530 |
| 2 | Mario | 67,280 |
| 3 | Princess Peach | 53,070 |
| 4 | Batman | 47,350 |
| 5 | Luigi | 24,080 |
| 6 | Pikachu | 21,320 |
| 7 | Lara Croft | 17,950 |
| 8 | Darth Vader | 17,790 |
| 9 | Bowser | 17,680 |
| 10 | Arthur Morgan | 12,760 |
In second place, Mario from the beloved Super Mario franchise amassed 67,280 average monthly searches. The Italian plumber’s simple costume—a red hat, blue overalls, white gloves, and a signature moustache—makes it a popular and easy-to-create DIY outfit. Mario’s enduring appeal, from children’s parties to adult fancy dress, ensures his status as a top choice for Halloween.
Third on the list is Princess Peach, another fan favourite from the Super Mario universe, with 53,070 searches. The princess is known for her flowing pink gown and golden crown. A classic look for those wanting a regal costume, her outfit can be achieved with a long pink dress, white gloves, and a blonde wig. A modern twist might include a shorter dress or a two-piece, as long as the signature pink remains the focus.
Batman, the Dark Knight, takes fourth place with 47,350 searches. The brooding superhero’s sleek black suit and cape provide a bold yet customisable costume option for those looking to embody the caped crusader. With numerous interpretations of the Batman costume from different films and comics, fans have a range of options to suit their preferences.
Rounding out the top five is Luigi, Mario’s green-clad sidekick, with 24,080 searches. Luigi’s outfit closely mirrors Mario’s, with the notable difference being his green colour scheme. As easy to assemble as Mario’s, the Luigi costume offers a budget-friendly and instantly recognisable choice.
Other popular costumes featured in the study’s top 10 include Pikachu from Pokémon (21,320 searches), Tomb Raider heroine Lara Croft (17,950 searches), Darth Vader from Star Wars (17,790 searches), Bowser from Super Mario (17,680 searches), and Arthur Morgan from Red Dead Redemption 2 (12,760 searches).
Valentijn Bakker, editor of Nieuwe Casino, commented on the findings, stating: “As the spooky season approaches, people are due to look on the internet for costume inspiration. This can come from all sorts of media and entertainment, including video games. The data shows just how much interest there is out there to recreate iconic video game character looks, and how, year after year, certain costumes never go out of style.”
With Halloween just around the corner, it’s clear that video game characters remain a major source of inspiration for costume choices, with Spider-Man leading the charge in 2024.
