Free Halloween puzzles with hints and answers

Quick answer

These Halloween puzzles combine a number pattern, a costume-ordering problem and a candy-sharing equation. All three are written out below with optional hints and explained answers. You can solve them on paper or talk through them together; no account is needed.

How should you use the hints?

Read the full question first and write down what is known. Each puzzle has a small hint and a separate answer. Open only the hint if you want to keep solving. The answer explains the deduction so you can check your reasoning, not just the final value.

Three Halloween puzzles to try

1. The pumpkin trail

Pumpkins are labelled 2, 6, 12, 20, ?. Each gap is two larger than the previous gap. What number belongs on the last pumpkin?

Show a small hint

Subtract neighboring labels before extending the pattern.

Reveal the answer and explanation

30. The gaps are 4, 6 and 8. The next gap is 10, so the next label is 20 + 10 = 30.

2. The costume parade

Four children wear Bat, Witch, Cat and Owl costumes. Bat is first. Owl stands immediately after Cat. Witch stands before Cat. What is their order from first to last?

Show a small hint

Keep Cat and Owl together as a two-person block.

Reveal the answer and explanation

Bat, Witch, Cat, Owl. With Bat first, the Cat–Owl block could occupy positions 2–3 or 3–4. Positions 2–3 leave no place for Witch before Cat, so the block must be in positions 3–4.

3. The candy bowls

Three bowls contain 18 sweets in total. The orange bowl has twice as many as the purple bowl. The green bowl has two more than the purple bowl. How many sweets are in each?

Show a small hint

Call the purple bowl’s amount x. The other amounts are 2x and x + 2.

Reveal the answer and explanation

Purple has 4, orange has 8 and green has 6. The total is x + 2x + x + 2 = 18, so 4x = 16 and x = 4. Checking: 4 + 8 + 6 = 18.

Prefer a Halloween crossword?

Our separate six-word mini crossword has a numbered grid, Across and Down clues, a printable puzzle sheet and a hidden solution. The words use familiar Halloween vocabulary and the crossing letters help you check a guess.

Which browser puzzle uses a similar skill?

For clue-based deduction, try Nonogram. For predicting the effect of a move, choose Lights Out. For ordering actions around blockers, try Arrow Escape. These are the regular games; the Halloween theme belongs to the written challenges above.

Common questions

Are the answers visible immediately?

No. Each hint and solution has its own expandable section. Choose how much help to reveal.

Can I use the puzzles in a family activity?

Yes. Read a challenge aloud or copy the question onto paper, and keep its answer closed until everyone has had a turn.

Try a game

Related guides

Game descriptions refer to this site’s rules and controls. The practice exercises and explanations on this page were written for puzzle free online.

Browse all guides