Ranking the 10 Best Reality Competition Shows on TV in 2025
Traitors, Love Island, Big Brother?
Reality TV is at all time high right now. There are so many different shows to select from. We have shows that cast new people each time like Love Island USA, Big Brother, Survivor and then we also have shows that cast former reality stars like The Challenge and The Traitors. This is a list ranking the best reality shows in 2025.
10. Too Hot To Handle
Platform: Netflix
Too Hot To Handle was THE show to watch in 2020. We saw Harry Jowsey, Chloe Veitch, and Francesca Farago be brought into our lives. These three have since become main stream celebrities. Obviously due to the first seasons success they continued. Season 2 was also amazing. Season 3 is when the show started to go downhill. Another issue is they are constantly changing the format. Season 1 had pretty much the entire cast as winners. Season 2 had a solo winner. Season 3 and 4 had a couple as winners. The show is okay still but it's not anywhere near the best.
9. Deal or No Deal Island
Platform: Peacock
Deal or No Deal was a show for years and years with Howie Mandel as the host. It was more of a game show than a competition reality show. It has done a complete change and kept things fresh. We have seen reality stars like Dr. Will Kirby and Parvati Shallow on it before. I just need to see more before I move it higher.
8. The Bachelor / Bachelorette
Platform: ABC
The Bachelor is just a cultural phenomenon. The show is good and casting has done a great job hiring some sweethearts and then some crazy people. The episodes are just a little long and it's hard in the beginning to keep up with the whole cast.
7. Big Brother
Platform: CBS - Paramount
When Big Brother is good it's good but when it's bad it's hard to watch. Last season had it's moments. The last really good Big Brother season was Big Brother 18 and that was in 2016. I just haven't loved any season recently. Taylor Hale's story on Big Brother 24 was amazing but the show overall needs work.
6. The Amazing Race
Platform: CBS - Paramount
The Amazing Race is a classic that has had 37 seasons. The show follows pairs racing around the world completing check marks in each country. This show is still amazing. The 90 minute episodes can be a drag sometimes but overall it's still one of the best shows on TV.
5. The Circle
Platform: Netflix
The Circle is always one of my favorite shows but it usually does take me a few episodes to get into it because they only drop 1 season every year. This show gave us people like Joey Sasso, Sammie Cimarelli, Shubham Goel, and more. The cliffhangers are great but they drop 3 episode a week and then you have to wait until the next week.
4. The Challenge
Platform: MTV - Paramount
I'm going to get killed for this because most of my articles and most of podcast interviews are with people from The Challenge. This show has the potential to be #1 unlike some of the others. It just hasn't found it's groove recently to be #1. Rivals to Exes II was peak television and had The Challenge at #1. Spies, Lies, & Allies dropped a few years ago and I think that is the worst season of reality TV I have ever watched. Hopefully season 41 will be a great season.
3. Survivor
Platform: CBS - Paramount
Survivor is old reliable. It has been on for 48 seasons and is just fantastic television. Survivor might be the best reality game created but I have it #3 for a few reasons. One is casting recently hasn't been great. The early 40's seasons were fantastic and brougth us Shan Smith, MaryAnne Oketch, Dee Valladares, Johnathan Young, Xander Hastings and more. Season 46, 47, and 48 didn't impress me much. 47 was the best out of the 3 but still.
2. Love Island USA
Platform: Peacock
This show goes back and forth between 1 and 2 recently. I want to be clear that I was a Love Island USA fan since it was on CBS with Justine Ndiba and Olivia Kaiser. Love Island USA was okay with season 4 and 5 but really took off for season 6. To be honest season 7 was just okay and was too strategic when that should be saved for Love Island Games.
1. The Traitors US
Platform: Peacock
The Traitors is the best reality competition show in the world right now and it's not really close. The casting is amazing between Bob the Drag Queen from RuPaul's Drag Race to Parvati Shallow from Survivor to Chris "CT" Tamburello from The Challenge to Phaedra Parks from The Real Housewives of Atlanta. This show knows how to pay good money for a cast. It is amazing to watch each and every season.
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Dylan Deckard is a content creator, podcast host, and blogger. He talks about reality TV, Grey's Anatomy and more. Please click the links below...
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Dylan Deckard
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Charleston, South Carolina
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