The BEST episodes of The Challenge

Every episode of The Challenge ever, ranked from best to worst by thousands of votes from fans of the show. The best episodes of The Challenge!

Reality stars compete in physical and mental challenges that will push them to their limit for their share of a $1 million prize. Age-old alliances, twists and turns from host TJ Lavin, and everyone living together under one roof only make the battle that much harder.

Last Updated: 11/28/2024Network: MTVStatus: Continuing

8.63

8 votes

#1 - Bungee Bound

Season 8 - Episode 10 - Aired 3/29/2004

Mission: ""Bungee Bound""- To bungee jump from 160 feet with you hands hooked together- Unhook your hands, grab the flag on your stomach the fastest. Mission Winner: Road Rules Aztec Lifesaver Winners- Real World: CT Road Rules: Holly Final Inferno Contestants- Real World: CT Road Rules: Shane Inferno Mission: ""Don't Toss Your Cookies""- To eat cookies and whole milk all while riding a spinning disk without puking. Sent Home- Shane from Road Rules Campus Crawl Bank Totals- Real World: $30,000 Road Rules: $70,000

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8.45

58 votes

#2 - Should I Stay or Should I Go?

Season 35 - Episode 7 - Aired 5/13/2020

Tori believes that she is ready to earn her red skull; Nany's budding crush on one player causes tension in her friendship with Aneesa; two players face off in the dust-to-dust elimination.

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8.35

52 votes

#3 - Come Michele or High Water

Season 38 - Episode 6 - Aired 11/16/2022

Laurel moves on from Horacio to another housemate, Jakk regrets his former friendship with untrustworthy Jay, and Michele's choices leave her racked with guilt.

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8.34

61 votes

#4 - The End of the Ride

Season 38 - Episode 19 - Aired 2/15/2023

With 31 hours left in the final, three teams face a cornfield maze and Balls In for a last chance at $1 million in the ultimate test of their physical strength and intelligence.

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8.34

53 votes

#5 - A Hard Jay's Night

Season 35 - Episode 3 - Aired 4/15/2020

The Challengers blow up trucks during the badass “Decode and Detonate” challenge. Jay finds himself in the middle of a dangerous love triangle that could result in his demise. Wes and Bananas’ alliance faces its first true test of loyalty.

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8.30

56 votes

#6 - Crash Into Me

Season 35 - Episode 15 - Aired 7/8/2020

One player's sloppy political maneuvering comes back to haunt them, while another takes a shocking gamble to save a friend. Competitors must fight for survival in the elimination game “Hall Brawl," where two players with Red Skulls will be eliminated

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8.29

45 votes

#7 - True Lies

Season 36 - Episode 17 - Aired 4/7/2021

Leroy opens up about this being his last season and being so close to the final, one agent from each team sets off on a secret challenge, and two players duke it out in hall brawl.

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8.24

59 votes

#8 - Duplicity

Season 36 - Episode 4 - Aired 1/6/2021

Loyalty is tested in a volatile new partnership. Agents must put their intel skills to the test while in a lava tunnel during "Mission: Drone Control." A stunning battle in The Crater causes ripples that will impact numerous Agents.

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8.21

61 votes

#9 - Benedict Laurel

Season 34 - Episode 4 - Aired 9/18/2019

Divisions on both teams come to light during the "Relic Runner" challenge; Laurel and Cara Maria's long-standing feud takes center stage; Bear and Georgia begin to flirt once again, leading Josh to question if he has a shot.

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8.20

10 votes

#10 - On the Wings of Love

Season 22 - Episode 8 - Aired 3/14/2012

The Top 4 teams are revealed before the penultimate challenge, where the players nearly get blown away while fighting for a spot in the finals.

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8.20

5 votes

#11 - Free Agents Reunion

Season 25 - Episode 13 - Aired 6/26/2014

Can Laurel and Cara Maria ever mend their best friendship? Will Bananas school Jordan on earning his stripes? And just who will Cohutta be asking to the Prom? Plus some hilarious unseen stories, new rivalries, and more.

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8.19

21 votes

#12 - True Colors

Season 24 - Episode 10 - Aired 9/11/2013

A game-changing win at the challenge has the losing female teams desperate to secure their spots in the final. After deliberations, Diem unravels when she realizes she had been manipulated throughout the entire game.

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8.19

59 votes

#13 - Lavender Is the New Black

Season 32 - Episode 14 - Aired 10/9/2018

After the results of the last wild elimination, the Lavender Ladies' loyalty toward one another is put to the test. Sylvia head-butts Marie...really.

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8.17

6 votes

#14 - Twist and Shoot

Season 8 - Episode 11 - Aired 4/5/2004

Mission: ""Twist and Shoot""- To shoot as many targets as possible while standing on a spinning platform 50 feet in the air. Mission Winner: Road Rules Girl's Inferno Nominees- Real World: Julie & Leah Road Rules: Katie & Veronica Chosen for The Inferno- Real World: Julie Road Rules: Veronica Bank Totals- Real World: $30,000 Road Rules: $80,000

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8.15

46 votes

#15 - Dee-Day

Season 34 - Episode 13 - Aired 11/20/2019

A "Puzzling Swim" purge challenge sends shockwaves through the game; Dee sets out to prove that she is not the weak link; one player uses a brilliant strategy during the "End of the Rope" elimination.

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8.14

7 votes

#16 - Pane in the Glass

Season 14 - Episode 10 - Aired 5/22/2007

Teams compete in a 50-yard dash, using dog sleds. The challenge is played in male/female pairs, with each pair dragging sleds with a male/female pair from the opposite team sitting on the sleds. The team that completes the challenge in the fastest average time wins. Note: Two girls from the Good Guys team (Paula and Susie) were required to compete twice, while two girls from the Bad Asses team (Aneesa and Jenn) were forced to sit out the challenge.

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8.14

49 votes

#17 - The Right Honorable Rogan

Season 34 - Episode 12 - Aired 11/13/2019

The UK men hatch a secret plot to get rid of their perceived worst player; Dee learns information about Rogan that makes her questions his intentions; two women compete in the classic "Hall Brawl" elimination.

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8.14

71 votes

#18 - The Royal Rumble

Season 34 - Episode 9 - Aired 10/23/2019

Tensions between Jordan and Turbo erupt into a full-blown war; Theo and Paulie get into a heated confrontation where Paulie gives Theo a tongue-lashing; a slippery puzzle causes players to crash into one another.

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8.12

57 votes

#19 - The Walking Dead

Season 32 - Episode 19 - Aired 11/13/2018

Alliances are dissolved as every team fights to earn their way into the Finals. Paulie and Cara Maria's season-long flirtation turns into something more. TJ reveals a shocking twist regarding the Final Challenge.

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8.12

17 votes

#20 - Reunion (Part 2)

Season 34 - Episode 18 - Aired 12/18/2019

The cast opens up to Justina Valentine and Nick Young about Rogan hooking up with Dee and Nany, Jordan picking a fight with Turbo and all the shady alliances from Season 34.

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8.09

54 votes

#21 - A Tale of Two Countries

Season 34 - Episode 15 - Aired 12/4/2019

Endurance, puzzles, and math put Team USA and Team UK to the ultimate test; one player has a shocking and disastrous gas-out that threatens to sink their team.

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8.08

53 votes

#22 - Lady Vengeance

Season 36 - Episode 9 - Aired 2/10/2021

Amber M. confronts Amber B. over her dishonest vote, Theresa opens up about her postpartum depression, and two rivals lock horns in the crater.

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8.06

65 votes

#23 - The Decision

Season 37 - Episode 19 - Aired 12/15/2021

On the season finale, the remaining challengers split into two teams and face several puzzles as they close out day one of the final, and TJ introduces a new twist on day two.

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8.06

68 votes

#24 - A Bumpy Ride

Season 38 - Episode 3 - Aired 10/26/2022

The new Ride or Dies pair throws Tori for a loop, Tommy and Analyse seek allies, Johnny and Ravyn's dynamic threatens their vitality in the game, and two teams face off in elimination.

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8.05

60 votes

#25 - Casualties of War

Season 33 - Episode 3 - Aired 2/20/2019

Zach makes a shocking move at the "Search and Destroy" challenge that makes everyone question his loyalties; Wes sets his sights on his mortal enemy, Bananas, but his attack may be premature.

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