Haunted Hotel Gives Netflix A Worthy Rick & Morty Replacement

Since debuting back in 2013, Rick and Morty has evolved into one of the biggest animated shows of all time, amassing a huge fan base that has stuck around season after season. Despite its reputation taking a hit in recent years, it remains one of the most popular TV shows around, but Netflix’s alternative offers some great competition.

Adult Swim’s flagship series has experienced several ups and downs, but even after losing one of its co-creators, Rick and Morty season 8’s ending proved there is still plenty to admire about this dark comedy. As a result, trying to replicate this kind of quality was always going to be difficult, but Netflix’s Haunted Hotel gave it a real go.

Like many other modern animated projects, Haunted Hotel felt like an attempt to replace Rick and Morty, but this series had one major advantage. Sharing the same creators as Rick & Morty allowed Haunted Hotel to carry more hype than most competitors, and alongside being an underrated hit, it also has plenty of longevity, meaning it could stick around for a while.

Haunted Hotel Is Netflix’s Perfect Answer To Rick & Morty

Although Rick and Morty is available on Netflix, it normally takes a while for new seasons to arrive on the platform, making Haunted Hotel the perfect exclusive. Since both shows share many of the same creatives, there is naturally a large overlap in terms of the dark, unorthodox humor that makes each project worth watching.

However, this fact could have easily resulted in Haunted Hotel feeling like a cheap Rick and Morty imitation, but thankfully, that’s not the case. Instead, the 2025 hit comes across as authentic, and while some viewers may be a little tired of the general tone — since there are many similar animated shows on the market — Haunted Hotel possesses a unique charm.

It’s the sort of project many Rick and Morty fans would enjoy, trading those iconic sci-fi elements for new paranormal adventures. Haunted Hotel‘s reviews were pretty strong across the board too, and for a completely new IP, it was far more impressive than a lot of people were expecting, despite facing a few valid criticisms.

Admittedly, it’s still a long way away from matching Rick and Morty‘s peak, but over time, the series could slowly build a similar reputation. The talented cast also gives the show a fresh sound, and after season 1, there is certainly a platform to build on that could allow Haunted Hotel to become a major player in the animated scene.

Haunted Hotel’s Fresh Premise Makes It Easy To Get Into

Ben looking mesmerized by an idol while ghostly hands reach out to him in Haunted Hotel

One of Rick and Morty‘s biggest strengths is its scale, as the concept allows the characters to travel to different planets and dimensions, opening up an endless amount of story possibilities. However, as enjoyable as this has been, Haunted Hotel taking place predominantly inside a single building feels completely fresh in comparison, making it far easier for new fans to invest in.

Rather than overwhelming viewers with sci-fi rules and ridiculous characters, Haunted Hotel is more simplistic with its approach, which is exactly what the market needs after years of Rick and Morty‘s crazy adventures. There are still some wacky personalities involved, particularly the spirits, but the show doesn’t overplay its hand until going a bit bolder in season 1’s finale.

The humor is also slightly less crude and meta, but it still has that dark edge that makes Haunted Hotel a strong Rick and Morty replacement. Most importantly, the Freeling family all bring something to the table that elevates the animated series and gives audiences new faces to become attached to.

Esther and Abaddon were instant fan favorites due to their quirkier traits, and their friendship was a highlight of season 1. Whether the show can continue to feel original as time goes on remains to be seen, but its sinister yet hilarious premise has thrived so far, and it may do so for years to come.

Haunted Hotel Has Endless Potential & Could Run For A Long Time

Katherine being confronted by a bunch of ghosts in Haunted Hotel

Despite being relatively restricted to The Undervale Hotel, Netflix’s animated show still has the potential to last for a very long time. Firstly, the almost endless number of spirits involved means there can be recurring side characters that drive the plot, alongside ghosts based on classic horror characters that cause constant chaos throughout the series.

The guests also help spice up the action, and having celebrity cameos could be a way of creating unique one-off adventures, similar to how Rick and Morty has. Additionally, the story has already explored the concept of some characters being away from the hotel while others remain there, offering a simple way of branching out.

It makes sense that some aspects of the Freeling family’s lives would take place outside this central location, and more episodes focused on what the spirits get up to while the owners are away could be fun going forward. Overall, Haunted Hotel‘s lifespan looks healthy, and assuming it can continue to reinvent itself, the Netflix project may just be getting started.