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: 10/17/2025Network: CBSStatus: Continuing
Heroes vs. Villains
star
9.06
134 votes

#1 - Heroes vs. Villains

First Aired 2/12/2010

Cagayan
star
8.75
154 votes

#2 - Cagayan

First Aired 2/27/2014

David vs. Goliath
star
8.61
125 votes

#3 - David vs. Goliath

First Aired 9/27/2018

Micronesia - Fans vs. Favorites
star
8.44
128 votes

#4 - Micronesia - Fans vs. Favorites

First Aired 2/8/2008

Cambodia - Second Chance
star
8.38
130 votes

#5 - Cambodia - Second Chance

First Aired 9/24/2015

Winners at War
star
8.37
126 votes

#6 - Winners at War

First Aired 2/13/2020

Pearl Islands
star
8.31
130 votes

#7 - Pearl Islands

First Aired 9/19/2003

Millennials vs. Gen X
star
8.12
135 votes

#8 - Millennials vs. Gen X

First Aired 9/22/2016

China
star
8.09
116 votes

#9 - China

First Aired 9/21/2007

The Amazon
star
7.87
107 votes

#10 - The Amazon

First Aired 2/14/2003

Tocantins
star
7.85
111 votes

#11 - Tocantins

First Aired 2/13/2009

Cook Islands
star
7.82
122 votes

#12 - Cook Islands

First Aired 9/15/2006

Borneo
star
7.76
162 votes

#13 - Borneo

First Aired 6/1/2000

Philippines
star
7.74
102 votes

#14 - Philippines

First Aired 9/20/2012

Kaôh Rōng
star
7.71
120 votes

#15 - Kaôh Rōng

First Aired 2/18/2016

The Australian Outback
star
7.55
132 votes

#16 - The Australian Outback

First Aired 1/29/2001

Blood vs. Water
star
7.51
100 votes

#17 - Blood vs. Water

First Aired 9/19/2013

Survivor 47
star
7.48
60 votes

#18 - Survivor 47

First Aired 9/19/2024

Survivor 46
star
7.46
68 votes

#19 - Survivor 46

First Aired 2/29/2024

Panama - Exile Island
star
7.42
105 votes

#20 - Panama - Exile Island

First Aired 2/3/2006

All-Stars
star
7.41
112 votes

#21 - All-Stars

First Aired 2/2/2004

Samoa
star
7.41
108 votes

#22 - Samoa

First Aired 9/18/2009

Africa
star
7.35
116 votes

#23 - Africa

First Aired 10/12/2001

Survivor 42
star
7.35
92 votes

#24 - Survivor 42

First Aired 3/10/2022

San Juan del Sur - Blood vs. Water
star
7.35
107 votes

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

First Aired 9/25/2014

Palau
star
7.29
103 votes

#26 - Palau

First Aired 2/18/2005

Gabon - Earth's Last Eden
star
7.11
98 votes

#27 - Gabon - Earth's Last Eden

First Aired 9/26/2008

Game Changers - Mamanuca Islands
star
7.08
104 votes

#28 - 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.

Survivor 45
star
7.07
74 votes

#29 - Survivor 45

First Aired 9/28/2023

Vanuatu - Islands of Fire
star
7.05
92 votes

#30 - Vanuatu - Islands of Fire

First Aired 9/17/2004

Guatemala - The Mayan Empire
star
7.00
90 votes

#31 - Guatemala - The Mayan Empire

First Aired 9/16/2005

Marquesas
star
6.99
108 votes

#32 - Marquesas

First Aired 3/1/2002

Survivor 44
star
6.91
77 votes

#33 - Survivor 44

First Aired 3/2/2023

Caramoan - Fans vs. Favorites
star
6.85
89 votes

#34 - Caramoan - Fans vs. Favorites

First Aired 2/14/2013

Heroes v. Healers v. Hustlers
star
6.76
102 votes

#35 - 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
6.74
115 votes

#36 - Worlds Apart

First Aired 2/26/2015

Fiji
star
6.70
88 votes

#37 - Fiji

First Aired 2/9/2007

Edge of Extinction
star
6.60
96 votes

#38 - Edge of Extinction

First Aired 2/21/2019

Ghost Island
star
6.59
94 votes

#39 - Ghost Island

First Aired 3/1/2018

Survivor 43
star
6.56
78 votes

#40 - Survivor 43

First Aired 9/22/2022

Survivor 48
star
6.33
54 votes

#41 - Survivor 48

First Aired 2/27/2025

Survivor 41
star
6.27
99 votes

#42 - Survivor 41

First Aired 9/23/2021

Nicaragua
star
6.26
91 votes

#43 - Nicaragua

First Aired 9/16/2010

South Pacific
star
5.97
93 votes

#44 - South Pacific

First Aired 9/15/2011

One World
star
5.96
97 votes

#45 - One World

First Aired 2/16/2012

Redemption Island
star
5.93
103 votes

#46 - Redemption Island

First Aired 2/17/2011

Island of the Idols
star
5.43
104 votes

#47 - Island of the Idols

First Aired 9/26/2019

Thailand
star
5.42
102 votes

#48 - Thailand

First Aired 9/20/2002

star
4.00
2 votes

#49 - Season 49

First Aired 9/25/2025