The BEST seasons of Survivor

Every season of Survivor ever, ranked from best to worst by thousands of votes from fans of the show. The best seasons of Survivor!

Sixteen or more castaways are split between two or more "Tribes", are taken to a remote isolated location and are forced to live off the land with meager supplies for roughly 39 days. Frequent physical challenges are used to pit the tribes against each other for Rewards, such as food or luxuries, or for "Immunity", forcing the other tribe to attend "Tribal Council", where they must vote off one of their players. Once about half the players are remaining, the tribes are merged into a single tribe, and competitions are on an individual basis; winning Immunity prevents that player from being voted out, while several that are voted out at this stage form the game's "Jury". Once down to two or three people, a Final Tribal Council is held where the remaining players plead their case to the jury members. The jury then votes for which player should be considered the "Sole Survivor" and win the $1 million prize. Survivor has introduced numerous modifications, or "twists", on the core rules in order to keep the players on their toes and to prevent players from relying on strategies that succeeded in prior seasons. These changes have included tribal switches, seasons starting with more than two tribes, the ability to exile a player from a tribe for a short time, Hidden Immunity Idols that players can use to save themselves at Tribal Council and a chance to return to regular gameplay after elimination through "Redemption Island".

Last Updated: 11/13/2024Network: CBSStatus: Continuing
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Heroes vs. Villains
star
9.09
129 votes

#1 - Heroes vs. Villains

First Aired 2/12/2010

Cagayan
star
8.75
142 votes

#2 - Cagayan

First Aired 2/27/2014

This edition of SURVIVOR, filmed in Cagayan, a province in the Philippines, will be themed “Brawn vs. Brains vs. Beauty.” The groupings of these tribes, each comprised of six castaways, reflect the distinguishing qualities that people bring to the game and test whether there is any truth to the pre-conceived notion that that certain characteristics will help you win the game of SURVIVOR. All castaways will compete to outwit, outplay, outlast and ultimately be crowned Sole Survivor.

David vs. Goliath
star
8.62
112 votes

#3 - David vs. Goliath

First Aired 9/27/2018

This edition features 20 new castaways divided into two groups of 10 strangers. Castaways who make up the "David" tribe have overcome adversity in their lives, while the castaways on the "Goliath" tribe tend to capitalize on their individual advantages and use it against their opponents. This extreme game of social politics will focus on the "underdogs" versus the "favorites" and reveal that every "Goliath" has an Achilles heel, while every "David" has a secret weapon. These castaways will be forced to compete against each other with the same ultimate goal: to outwit, outplay and outlast each other in an attempt to become the Sole Survivor. The show returns to the Mamanuca Islands in Fiji, with Emmy Award winner Jeff Probst as host.

Cambodia - Second Chance
star
8.46
128 votes

#4 - Cambodia - Second Chance

First Aired 9/24/2015

In a SURVIVOR first, the 31st season, themed Second Chance, will feature 20 castaways, chosen by the fans, who return to compete against each other with the same ultimate goal: to outwit, outplay and outlast each other. Ultimately, one will be crowned the Sole Survivor and win the one million dollar prize. The show is hosted by Emmy Award winner Jeff Probst.

Micronesia - Fans vs. Favorites
star
8.43
119 votes

#5 - Micronesia - Fans vs. Favorites

First Aired 2/8/2008

In a SURVIVOR first, 10 ultra-fans of the series will take on 10 former castaways to compete as FANS vs. FAVORITES. The two tribes will be marooned amidst the Rock Islands of Palau, Micronesia. The skills of the former castaways will be put to the test while the tribe of first-time competitors will see if their enthusiasm and passion for the game is enough to distinguish them as worthy competitors. Who will prevail to become Sole Survivor?

Winners at War
star
8.41
117 votes

#6 - Winners at War

First Aired 2/13/2020

This edition features 20 legendary winners of Survivor who will return to compete against each other. The 20th anniversary edition of the groundbreaking series, unites the most memorable, heroic and celebrated champions from the past two decades in the biggest battle in the show's history, as the series' best strategists of all time fight to earn the title of Sole Survivor again. These returning masterminds will compete in epic challenges, face the return of Edge of Extinction, which gives voted-out players a second shot to win, and tackle a brand new layer of the game with the introduction of fire tokens. Fire tokens will serve as currency on the island and add more complexity to the already intense battle. The new twist allows players to use the tokens to buy advantages to help players stay in the game or get themselves back in the game.

Pearl Islands
star
8.23
120 votes

#7 - Pearl Islands

First Aired 9/19/2003

Millennials vs. Gen X
star
8.19
129 votes

#8 - Millennials vs. Gen X

First Aired 9/22/2016

The Emmy Award-winning series returns this fall for its 33rd season, themed Millennials vs. Gen X. It will feature 20 castaways, separated into two groups by their generation and forced to compete against each other with the same ultimate goal: to outwit, outplay and outlast one another. Ultimately, one will be crowned the Sole Survivor and win the $1 million prize. The show is hosted by Emmy Award winner Jeff Probst.

China
star
8.09
108 votes

#9 - China

First Aired 9/21/2007

The Amazon
star
7.94
101 votes

#10 - The Amazon

First Aired 2/14/2003

Tocantins
star
7.89
105 votes

#11 - Tocantins

First Aired 2/13/2009

Cook Islands
star
7.84
113 votes

#12 - Cook Islands

First Aired 9/15/2006

Philippines
star
7.79
96 votes

#13 - Philippines

First Aired 9/20/2012

Survivor: Philippines is the 25th season of Survivor. It premiered on September 19, 2012.

Borneo
star
7.71
154 votes

#14 - Borneo

First Aired 6/1/2000

Kaôh Rōng
star
7.62
113 votes

#15 - Kaôh Rōng

First Aired 2/18/2016

The Australian Outback
star
7.59
128 votes

#16 - The Australian Outback

First Aired 1/29/2001

Blood vs. Water
star
7.49
100 votes

#17 - Blood vs. Water

First Aired 9/19/2013

Panama - Exile Island
star
7.42
99 votes

#18 - Panama - Exile Island

First Aired 2/3/2006

Survivor 42
star
7.40
84 votes

#19 - Survivor 42

First Aired 3/10/2022

Samoa
star
7.38
104 votes

#20 - Samoa

First Aired 9/18/2009

All-Stars
star
7.37
104 votes

#21 - All-Stars

First Aired 2/2/2004

Africa
star
7.34
113 votes

#22 - Africa

First Aired 10/12/2001

San Juan del Sur - Blood vs. Water
star
7.30
103 votes

#23 - San Juan del Sur - Blood vs. Water

First Aired 9/25/2014

Season 46
star
7.28
47 votes

#24 - Season 46

First Aired 2/29/2024

Palau
star
7.22
94 votes

#25 - Palau

First Aired 2/18/2005

Game Changers - Mamanuca Islands
star
7.12
102 votes

#26 - Game Changers - Mamanuca Islands

First Aired 3/9/2017

The 34th season is themed “Game Changers” and takes place in the Mamanuca Islands in Fiji. It features 20 returning castaways who helped evolve the game even further by launching an accelerated level of competition and proven willingness to risk it all.

Vanuatu - Islands of Fire
star
7.02
85 votes

#27 - Vanuatu - Islands of Fire

First Aired 9/17/2004

Gabon - Earth's Last Eden
star
7.00
93 votes

#28 - Gabon - Earth's Last Eden

First Aired 9/26/2008

"Earth's Last Eden" is the setting for the 17th edition of Survivor.

Survivor 44
star
7.00
60 votes

#29 - Survivor 44

First Aired 3/2/2023

Season 45
star
6.98
53 votes

#30 - Season 45

First Aired 9/28/2023

Marquesas
star
6.97
99 votes

#31 - Marquesas

First Aired 3/1/2002

Guatemala - The Mayan Empire
star
6.93
83 votes

#32 - Guatemala - The Mayan Empire

First Aired 9/16/2005

Caramoan - Fans vs. Favorites
star
6.91
88 votes

#33 - Caramoan - Fans vs. Favorites

First Aired 2/14/2013

Twenty castaways will compete on SURVIVOR: CARAMOAN ‐ FANS VS. FAVORITES when the Emmy Award-winning series returns on Wednesdays. This edition of SURVIVOR will feature the return of one of the game's greatest pairings: Fans vs. Favorites. Dropped on the exotic Caramoan Islands, the 20 castaways will be divided into two tribes of 10: "The Bikal Tribe," made up of former players deemed favorites, and "The Gota Tribe," comprised of ultimate fans of the game. The tribes are comprised of individuals from all different backgrounds with the same ultimate goal: to outwit, outplay, outlast and ultimately be crowned Sole Survivor. The show is hosted by Emmy Award winner Jeff Probst.

Heroes v. Healers v. Hustlers
star
6.82
98 votes

#34 - Heroes v. Healers v. Hustlers

First Aired 9/28/2017

In the 35th season, the show returns to the Mamanuca Islands in Fiji and features 18 castaways divided into three groups of six based on how they are perceived by others. Heroes are used to being heralded, healers receive gratitude for their work, and hustlers must earn respect.

Worlds Apart
star
6.79
112 votes

#35 - Worlds Apart

First Aired 2/26/2015

The 30th season, themed Worlds Apart, will separate contestants into three tribes: blue collar, white collar and no collar. The groupings of these tribes, each comprised of six castaways, reflect the distinguishing qualities that people bring to the game and test whether there is any truth to the pre-conceived notion that that certain characteristics will help you win the game of SURVIVOR. All castaways will compete to outwit, outplay, outlast and ultimately be crowned Sole Survivor. The show is hosted by Emmy Award winner Jeff Probst.

Ghost Island
star
6.77
91 votes

#36 - Ghost Island

First Aired 3/1/2018

The 36th edition features 20 new castaways divided into two groups of 10 and centers around the bad decisions of past players. In a new twist, players may be sent to a separate haunted island filled with Survivor relics from the previous 35 seasons of the show. Will these new players be able to learn from the past mistakes of others and "reverse the curse," or will the past come back to haunt them? The castaways will be forced to compete against each other with the same ultimate goal: to outwit, outplay, and outlast each other in an attempt to become the Sole Survivor.

Edge of Extinction
star
6.68
92 votes

#37 - Edge of Extinction

First Aired 2/21/2019

The 38th season, themed “Edge of Extinction", features 18 castaways divided into two equal tribes, The Manu Tribe and The Kama Tribe. Four returning players join the 14 castaways who are competing for the first time. The returning castaways are Joe Anglim (“Worlds Apart,” “Second Chance”), Aubry Bracco (“Kaoh Rong,” “Game Changers”), Kelley Wentworth (“Second Chance,” “San Juan del Sur”) and David Wright (“Millennials vs. Gen-X”). This season presents a new layer to the game with the introduction of the island known as “Edge of Extinction,” which severely tests the will of the castaways to be the Sole Survivor and what they are willing to endure to make that happen. Those who can withstand the emotionally and physically difficult challenge will be afforded a shot at one of them to get back in the game and continue their quest for $1 million.

Fiji
star
6.66
83 votes

#38 - Fiji

First Aired 2/9/2007

Stranded on the Fiji Islands in the heart of the South Pacific, 19 strangers must live together and compete for the million-dollar prize. Who will outwit, outplay, and outlast all others?

Survivor 43
star
6.66
67 votes

#39 - Survivor 43

First Aired 9/22/2022

Nicaragua
star
6.24
87 votes

#40 - Nicaragua

First Aired 9/16/2010

Survivor 41
star
6.24
88 votes

#41 - Survivor 41

First Aired 9/23/2021

Stranded in the beautiful islands of Fiji, these 18 determined new castaways will be divided into three tribes of six and will face one of the most dangerous seasons in the history of the show. The series evolves even further when this season introduces fresh elements to the competition that intensifies the battle and tests even the strongest super fan. The mental and physical challenges force players to choose between personal risk and reward, while still navigating the complex social game and attempting to forge alliances to last another day. The individuals competing are from diverse backgrounds with the same ultimate goal: to outwit, outplay and outlast and ultimately be crowned Sole Survivor.

One World
star
6.00
93 votes

#42 - One World

First Aired 2/16/2012

Survivor: One World is the twenty-fourth season of Survivor. The season was filmed from August 1 through September 8, 2011 and premiered on February 15, 2012.

Redemption Island
star
5.96
97 votes

#43 - Redemption Island

First Aired 2/17/2011

South Pacific
star
5.89
88 votes

#44 - South Pacific

First Aired 9/15/2011

Island of the Idols
star
5.55
96 votes

#45 - Island of the Idols

First Aired 9/26/2019

This edition features two legendary winners, Boston Rob Mariano and Sandra Diaz-Twine, who return to the game to serve as mentors to a group of 18 new players. Combined, Boston Rob and Sandra have played over 200 days in this game and plan to share their knowledge with the new castaways, but for the first time ever, they won't be competing for the money. During the 39 days, these new players will visit the Island of the Idols and learn skills and strategy from these "idols." The new players will then put their knowledge to the test and those who can rise up to the challenge will continue their quest for $1 million and the title of Sole Survivor.

Thailand
star
5.49
100 votes

#46 - Thailand

First Aired 9/20/2002