The 16 BestSurvivorSeasons to Watch Ahead of the Highly-Anticipated Season 48 Premiere

Mar. 15, 2025

Kyle Ostwald, Caroline Vidmar, Sue Smey, Solomon Sol Yi, Rachel LaMont, Genevieve Mushaluk, Sam Phalen and Gabe Ortis on season 47 of ‘Survivor.'.Photo:©2024 CBS Broadcasting, Inc.

©2024 CBS Broadcasting, Inc.

Survivorfans still can’t get enough of the competition series more than two decades after its 2000 debut.

The reality show features several players sent to a remote location with limited food and resources. Known as castaways, they are divided into tribes, which eventually merge as the pool shrinks. Contestants must strategize and make their way through multiple tribal councils, where a player is voted out each time — except for the final meeting.

In the end, previously voted-off jury members come together to decide who will be the winning castaway, earning the title of Sole Survivor and $1 million in prize money.

Throughout its run,Survivorhas been nominated for nearly 70 Emmy Awards — with hostJeff Probstwinning five Emmys himself. “I love the job. I really do,” he told PEOPLE in April 2024. “I am naturally curious and I’m mostly curious about human behavior, why we do the things we do. AndI’ve had a front-row seatto that for 24 years.”

Survivorhas become known not just for its longevity but also its ability to constantly innovate, bringing in new twists, turns, elements andcharactersthat fans have grown to know and love.

To kick off the reality competition show’s season 48, out on Feb. 26, here are the bestSurvivorseasons that outwit, outlast and outplay the rest.

Warning:Survivorspoilers ahead!

Survivor: Borneo

‘Survivor: Borneo’.CBS Photo Archive

CBS Photo Archive

There’s nothing quite like the first time andSurvivor’sfirst season in Borneois no exception. Borneo introduced the world ofSurvivorto fans with the unfathomable presentation of 16 castaways roughing it on an island, forming alliances and blindsiding their way to $1 million.

The show was quite different upon debuting, as the first immunity challenge involved eating live bugs rather than the other seasons’ physical challenges and mental puzzles.

Richard Hatchplayed the game with an edge, employing strategy, forming alliances and backstabbing when necessary, as he did whatever it took to etch his name in history asSurvivor’s first winner.

Survivor: Australian Outback

‘Survivor:The Australian Outback’.Monty Brinton/CBS Photo Archive/Getty

Monty Brinton/CBS Photo Archive/Getty

Survivor: Australian Outbackhad the challenging task of one-upping the breakaway hit first season and arguably did just that. Its Australian setting in the desert still stands as a unique background compared to the usual jungle elements castaways face.

Survivor: The Amazon

‘Survivor: The Amazon’.Monty Brinton/CBS via Getty

Monty Brinton/CBS via Getty

Jenna Morascawon the season before reappearing onSurvivor: All-Starswith her then-boyfriend,Survivor: AfricawinnerEthan Zohn.

Survivor: Pearl Islands

‘Survivor: Pearl Islands’.Robert Voets/CBS Photo Archive/Getty

Robert Voets/CBS Photo Archive/Getty

Pearl Islandsintroduced some of the most infamous characters inSurvivorhistory, including the season’s winner — and eventual first two-timeSurvivorwinner —Sandra Diaz-TwineandRupert Boneham. However, the most memorable character may have beenSurvivor’s most notorious villain,Jonny Fairplay.

The season incorporated a pirate theme, extending to every challenge, but perhaps no one embodied this more than Fairplay and his antics.

Survivor: All-Stars

‘Survivor: All-Stars’.Scott Gries/Getty

Scott Gries/Getty

While the installment brought together the bestSurvivorplayers to compete against one another, it will be mostly remembered as the final showdown between“Boston” Rob MarianoandAmber Brkich, in which Mariano proposed to Brkich before she was revealed as the winner.

Survivor: China

‘Survivor: China’.Frederick M. Brown/Getty

Frederick M. Brown/Getty

ForSurvivor’s 15th season, they visited their northernmost destination in China, weaving cultural aspects into everything from challenges to gameplay to rewards to the season slogan. The gamesmanship was high, with fan-favorites includingAmanda Kimmel,James Clement,Courtney Yatesand even former WWE wrestlerAshley Massaro.

Perhaps this season’s most memorable aspect was the final tribal council, where viewers had no idea who would win.Todd Herzogutilized flattery to justify lying to people he’d built meaningful relationships with in order to win the game, which won over the jury and the million-dollar prize.

Survivor: Micronesia - Fans vs. Favorites

‘Survivor: Micronesia - Fans vs. Favorites’.Monty Brinton/CBS via Getty

The concept made for a high level of gameplay and strategizing amongst new players who believed they could outwit, outlast and outplay the game’s best like Fairplay and Kimmel. However, this season cementedParvati Shallowas one of the game’s best, leading an all-women’s alliance until the end when she emerged as the Sole Survivor.

Survivor: Heroes vs. Villains

‘Survivor: Heroes vs. Villains’.Monty Brinton/CBS via Getty

Survivor: Heroes vs. Villainsdidn’t just bring back fan favorites, it also created one of the most intriguingsetups yet with a tale as old as time.

Notable heroes like Boneham and Donaldson returned, with then-newer favorites like Candice Woodcock andCirie Fieldscompeting against ruthless favorites like Boston Rob, Jerry Manthey andRussell Hantz.

The season engaged viewers from the get-go with a scathing pre-merger feud between Boston Rob and Hantz as well as Shallow giving out two immunity idols in a single tribal council. Anytime the game’s greatest players get together, it makes for great viewing, but the heroes vs. villains theme made this season essential viewing.

Survivor: Philippines

‘Survivor: Philippines’.Monty Brinton/CBS via Getty

What made the 25th season ofSurvivorso intriguing was the constantly-developing storylines — along with the addition of ‘80s icon andFacts of LifestarLisa Whelchelparticipating as a contestant. Things started with three tribes instead of the usual two, which initiated more complex forming of alliances and higher-stakes challenges.

The alliance between Denise Stapley and Malcolm Freberg made for compelling television, with the former becoming the first contestant to make it through every tribal council to win the whole contest. The season also saw the return of Russell Swan, Michael Skupkin and Jonathan Penner, the latter of whom got a second chance after having to leave during previous seasons due to medical issues.

Survivor: Blood vs. Water

‘Survivor: Blood vs. Water’.Timothy Kuratek/CBS via Getty

Timothy Kuratek/CBS via Getty

HeartwarmingSurvivormoments always come from reward challenges in which fans get to see players’ loved ones. However, this season began with castaways in one tribe and their loved ones in another, adding new layers of complexity and emotion to players’ strategies.

Players not wanting to see their loved ones eliminated created naturally interesting tension, especially when it came to Redemption Island. However, blood proved thinner than water on occasion, like whenCiera Eastinvoted out her mother, Laura Morett, in one of the better examples of how ruthlessly entertainingSurvivorcan be.

Survivor: Cagayan

‘Survivor: Cagayan’.Monty Brinton/CBS via Getty

Survivor: Cagayanis one of the best seasons, featuring entirely new castaways. The show divided members into tribes based on brains, brawn and beauty but ultimately showed that these labels were meaningless.

This season was engaging from the first episode to the last, with fan favorites like Spencer Bledsoe, Kass McQuillen andTony Vlachos.

Vlachos made a particularly memorable impression on fans with his spy shack, where he would climb up in the trees and listen to crucial conversations. Everyone expected Yung “Woo” Hwang to bring McQuillen to the final two, but he shockingly chose Vlancho instead, as he was named Sole Survivor.

Survivor: Cambodia—Second Chance

‘Survivor: Cambodia — Second Chance’.Monty Brinton/CBS via Getty

InSurvivor: Cambodiafans got to vote for which previous castaways they wanted to see return for a second chance to win $1 million. Every contestant made the most of their second chance with high levels of strategic play, taking advantage of opportunities like hidden idols at challenges or temptations to quit a challenge for a mystery vote steal advantage.

Between Kelley Wentworth’s strategic play at finding idols and forming/switching alliances andJeremy Collinsplaying one of the best social games of all time to win a million dollars, this season was one for the ages. It even featured former PEOPLESurvivorbloggerStephen Fishbach.

Survivor: Millennials vs. Gen X

‘Survivor: Millennials vs. Gen X’.Monty Brinton/CBS via Getty

Millennials vs. Gen Xwould have been a good enough theme strictly to illustrate generational differences in survival skills. However, it also marked the show’s ability to flex its longevity muscles, having been on the air long enough to cast fans who had grown up watching the series as kids.

The results made way for a constantly evolving season ofSurvivorwith iconic blindsides, shocking timing of idols played and personal growth for the cast members.

Survivor: David vs. Goliath

‘Survivor: David vs. Goliath’.CBS via Getty

CBS via Getty

Anotherall-time great themed season ofSurvivorwas biblical in nature, pitting ten David-like underdogs against ten Goliath-like overachievers.

Much of what made this season was the cast, which includedWhite Lotuscreator andSchool of Rockwriter/actorMike White— who was an excellentSurvivorplayer — and former WWE wrestler John Morrison, billed asJohn Henniganon the show.

On the David side of things, perennial underdogChristian Hubicki’s quirkiness earned him a reputation as one of the most likableSurvivorfan favorites.

Survivor: Winners at War

‘Survivor: Winners at War’.CBS via Getty

For its40th season,Survivorbrought back 20 of its best winners from early seasons (like Shallow, Boston Rob and Amber Brkich) and later season winners (includingWendell Holland,Adam KleinandMichele Fitzgerald).

Having strict competitors who were proven winners was not just a celebration ofSurvivor; it resulted in some of the highest-level strategies the series would see.

Often regarded as one of the best seasons, it implemented new elements like the single-season addition of fire tokens. However, moments involving the legendary cast — including the emotional resonance of Zohn returning after overcoming life-threatening cancer twice and Vlachos winning it all — made forSurvivorhistory.

Survivor 47

Rachel LaMont and Jeff Probst on Season 47 of ‘Survivor’.©2024 CBS Broadcasting, Inc.

source: people.com