10 Best TV Shows Like Survivor

Outwit. Outplay. Outlast. That has been the core essence of "Survivor" since it premiered in May 2000. Every season of the reality competition show sends a group of people to a tropical, remote location to survive the elements... and each other. Through challenges and Tribal Councils, all under the watchful eye of host Jeff Probst, everyone plays the game for $1 million and the title of "Sole Survivor." For 50 seasons, "Survivor" has helped shape the reality competition landscape and inspire other shows.

Season 51 of "Survivor" recently kicked off with an all-new group of contestants vying for the prize. As the new season progresses, you may find yourself looking to fill the time in-between new episodes. For those looking for shows that feature the same type of survival instincts or human deception found on the CBS reality show, consider checking out these shows.

"Alone" takes the "survive" in "Survivor" to the extreme. Contestants are dropped in a remote location, and the rules are straightforward: Survive by yourself for as long as you can for the grand prize of $500,000. Unlike "Survivor," "Alone" opts for colder climates. Season 7 had contestants endure 100 days in the Arctic for $1 million.

Although "Alone" lacks the social dynamics that makes "Survivor" so juicy, the History Channel competition show makes nature the main attraction. It's up to endurance and skills to withstand the elements without the support of the fellow contestants. Plus, there is no set end for the competition: The season lasts as long as their "sole survivor" does, meaning they could be out in the wilderness for months at a time. "Alone" makes "Survivor" look like a walk on the beach in comparison.

"Big Brother" debuted less than two months after "Survivor" premiered. Part of the Big Three of the flagship reality shows at CBS, this series trades outdoor isolation for an isolated house on a studio lot. With Julie Chen Moonves as host, HouseGuests are placed under surveillance as they compete to remain in the house the longest and win a cash prize. Like "Survivor," "Big Brother" features immunity challenges and evictions to determine who stays and who leaves.

Together "Survivor" and "Big Brother" set the standard for reality competition television on CBS. Despite the domestic setting of the Big Brother House, "Big Brother" includes the same level of strategy and manipulation seen in "Survivor." Due to the network synergy, there have been plenty of former "Survivor" contestants who have made cameos in "Big Brother," including Boston Rob himself, Rob Mariano. With 28 seasons to under its belt, the legacy of "Big Brother" speaks for itself.

In the middle of the reality television boom of the 2000s, J.J. Abrams changed appointment TV with the first season of "Lost." The hybrid mystery sci-fi show follows the remaining survivors of Oceanic Flight 815, who crash on an island in the South Pacific. Audiences tuned in to discover more about the survivors and the true nature of a tropical island that had a polar bear walking around.

Although "Lost" is a scripted series, it has a lot in common with "Survivor." An island that's seemingly in the South Pacific is a similar setting to many of the locations in "Survivor." They both center on groups of strangers trying to endure the elements. They also share a level of mystery where you aren't sure what will happen next (or in the case of "Survivor," who will be eliminated). At their peak, "Lost" and "Survivor" were the definition of water cooler television that kept you coming back for more every week.

Nothing is more exposing than being alone in the woods without clothing and trying to survive without tools... while the world watches from home. "Naked and Afraid" strips (pun intended) the large group format and challenges of "Survivor" in order to focus on survival at its base form. Typical seasons feature two survivalists enduring the elements for three weeks; the spin-off "Naked and Afraid: XL" has more contestants trying to survive for almost double the time.

Out of the many reality TV series, this Discovery Channel program is considered one of the most dangerous reality shows. Contestants are only allowed to bring one tool for help. Their bodies are completely exposed to the sun, insects, and bacteria in these isolated locations. There are no check-ins from a host like Jeff Probst. These survivalists have to rely on each other to survive what nature has to offer.

Not all reality competitions are found on network television. This Netflix competition series drops four groups of four players into the wilderness for the chance to split a $1 million reward. The game is simple — survive off the land for as long as you can in a team of at least two people. The catch is "Outlast" aims to group together reclusive personalities who would rather face the wilderness alone. This creates the social tension at play while they try to survive the elements.

The first two seasons are set in the Alaskan wilderness, which is a stark difference from many of the locations featured in "Survivor." Meanwhile, its spin-off, "Outlast: The Jungle," takes place in Panama. Netflix renewed the survival competition show for a fourth season. Whether it returns to Alaska or explores somewhere new remains to be seen.

Although "Survivor" remains in one exotic, isolated location for roughly a month, "The Amazing Race" takes teams all over the globe in about the same amount of time. This reality competition series debuted a year after "Survivor" in 2001, and instead of strangers, teams of two enter the competition for a race around the world for the chance to win $1 million.

"Survivor" crowns a sole winner; in "Amazing Race," it is one duo in a race against time, competing in region-specific challenges during each stop along the way. The key to this race is teamwork — lifting each other up, communication, and spurring each other to keep going. Just be sure your team isn't the last one greeting Phil Keoghan at the end of each leg because that will get you a plane ticket home.

As one of the Big Three of the CBS reality competition shows, "The Amazing Race" has been a mainstay of the network. In Season 31, "The Amazing Race: Reality Showdown" included three teams from "Survivor" and three teams from "Big Brother." Here's hoping CBS does another major crossover like this in the future.

"Survivor" might have kicked off the reality competition series boom in the 2000s, but "The Challenge" actually predates "Survivor" by two years. The series started as a spin-off of two other MTV reality shows, "Real World" and "Road Rules." "The Challenge" pits former stars against each other in extreme physical challenges to avoid elimination. Like "Survivor," the competitors are divided into teams that eventually dwindle as the competition goes on.

For many seasons, "The Challenge" kept the competitors within the MTV family. However, the series has expanded to feature alumni from non-MTV reality shows, including "Survivor." The latest season of "The Challenge," subtitled "Cutthroat," includes four previous "Survivor" contestants.

In the wake of "Survivor," there were many reality competition shows sprouting up trying to reach that level of success. One of the more underrated reality competition shows of this era is "The Mole." In it, a group of contestants must work together. The catch? There's a mole within the group sabotaging their efforts.

"The Mole" leans into the social strategy of "Survivor" more than the exotic locations. The original ABC series was canceled but was brought back to life by Netflix for a brief reboot in 2022. Fun fact: Anderson Cooper was the original host of "The Mole," and it's worth revisiting early seasons to see Cooper outside the newsroom.

"Survivor" made a name for itself for taking ordinary people out into the wilderness and watching them do what it takes in order to win a game. "The Traitors," at least the U.S. version, is more interested in dropping reality stars in a Scottish castle and pitting them against each other. The Emmy-winning competition is the ultimate game of Mafia and Werewolf. The Faithfuls attempt to uncover the Traitors, while the Traitors work together to eliminate everyone else.

The U.S. version of the competition is an all-star game featuring every corner of the reality TV world, and the latest season, "The Traitors: New Blood" is no exception. In fact, many previous "Survivor" competitors have made their way to the Scottish castle to see if they have what it takes to win "The Traitors." How well do "Survivor" alumni do at the game? Cirie Fields, who appeared in multiple seasons of "Survivor," won the first season of the U.S. version.

Showrunner Mike White is a reality competition alum from both "The Amazing Race" and "Survivor: David vs. Goliath." However, it's his time on "Survivor" that has the most impact on his hit HBO show, "The White Lotus." The anthology show is set at one of the luxurious White Lotus hotel resorts, following a group of guests and staff for a week where someone doesn't make it out alive. The upcoming fourth season of "The White Lotus" will be set in France.

Set against a beautiful backdrop like the "Survivor" locations, the series leans into the social dynamics between guest and the staff, even within the guests' own groups. While there is no Tribal Council or a Jeff Probst guiding these guests through challenges, there are plenty of "Survivor" cameos found throughout all three seasons, including Angelina Keeley, Alec Merlino, and Christian Hubicki. It's currently unknown if Season 4 will also feature more of White's "Survivor" comrades, but if the last three seasons are any indication, it's probable.