Summary
- Surviving in the wilderness is a captivating theme in both mainstream media and reality TV shows like Survivor and The Revenant.
- Survival series connect viewers with nature through real people facing basic needs and challenges, offering a raw and engaging experience.
- Best survival shows like Survivor, Naked and Afraid, and Man vs. Wild provide thrilling entertainment and valuable survival insights.
While many wouldn't be able to survive in the wilderness if stranded, it doesn't stop audiences from watching other people try to do it — here are Survivor season 46 unfolding, it's clear the survival show genre isn't going away.
Watching real people strip back the complexities of modern lifestyles to fulfill their basic needs makes up for a gripping reality series. It satiates a viewer's want to connect with nature. This explains why survival reality TV rarely relies on exaggerated melodrama and often has the narrative of a rite of age for its contestants. Due to its popularity, the survival reality TV genre contains many kinds of shows; some are savage yet beautiful, while others are less successful. Here are the 15 best survival shows, ranked from worst to best.
15 Surviving The Stone Age
Not Available For Streaming
Surviving the Stone Age: Adventure in the Wild is a 2020 three-part miniseries following eight researchers who endeavor to survive in the Bulgarian mountains for a month using only the means of those who lived in the Stone Age, and it's one of the best survival shows. Their goal is ultimately to learn more about humanity's ancestors from this era while testing their merit in survival situations.
For lovers of reality television and history, Surviving the Stone Age is an excellent crossover that provides exciting tidbits about humanity in the Stone Age while also featuring the classic tropes of reality survival series.
The show is also populated by personalities with a general sense of what they're doing, eliminating some of the follies of other series that feature less capable contestants.
14 Snowflake Mountain
Watch On Netflix
Snowflake Mountain is a fun, somewhat misguided reality show that takes groups of young adults without the necessary survival skills and instincts into various wilderness situations where they are forced to learn about the perils of survival and adulthood. Unfortunately, they're not too good at becoming adults in this cringe but fun show about survival and privilege. It's hard to look away from.
While Snowflake Mountain is a far cry from some of the more well-known survival series on television today, it does prove to be somewhat of a guilty pleasure because of the contestants' complete lack of wilderness survival skills. The sheer amount of unbelievable moments makes it one of the best survival shows, even if it is a guilty pleasure reality TV series, as each contestant flails on even the most basic tasks.
13 Naked and Afraid
Watch On Discovery+
Set amid some of the most extreme environments on the planet, Naked and Afraid features several pairs who — bereft of clothing — attempt to survive the harsh forces of nature, making it one of the most bizarre but best survival shows. While the show's "stranded in the wild" approach isn't exactly novel, the sans clothing rule evokes a unique premise. There have been numerous Naked and Afraid that keep the show interesting.
The series also brings a quasi-documentary feel by proving that the featured participants have to face real threats of the wilderness.
For instance, executive producer Steve Rankin was bitten by a venomous snake while filming in the Costa Rican rainforest. There are many excellent seasons of Naked and Afraid for fans to enjoy, with each more exciting than the last.
12 The Colony
Watch On Discovery+
Produced by Discovery Channel, The Colony brings an intriguing concept to its fore, and it's one of the best survival shows. Its contestants are neither on an isolated island nor in a rainforest with intense wildlife. Instead, they are stuck in a simulated post-apocalyptic environment where survival goes beyond finding food, water, and shelter. It brings the topic of many survival-themed movies to the fore, making cast figure it out for themselves.
The show not only creates an immersive experience for its contestants but for its viewers as well. Like most other reality shows, it may not always seem genuine and might get voted down for its role-playing elements. However, its meaty post-societal narrative and well-cast contestants are enough to give it an original appeal.
11 Dude, You're Screwed
Watch On Max
Dude, You're Screwed is Survivorman meets Impractical Jokers, as five expert survivalists compete to see which has the better skills.
Each episode sees one survivalist kidnapped by the other four and dropped off in a desolate location, leaving him to survive alone.
It's both hilarious and anxiety-inducing, making for a perfect entertainment combination.
This series is a perfect watch for anyone who enjoys seeing experts in their field pushed to their limits, and it's one of the best survival shows. Though the series had a minimal run of only two seasons, there is plenty of entertainment value and several good tips on surviving in various harsh environments. If the show regains popularity, maybe there could be another season in the future.
10 Ultimate Survival Alaska
Watch On Prime Video
Beyond its breathtaking snow-clad mountains and idyllic dense forests, the Alaskan region accommodates some of the most unforgiving environments. The contestants of Ultimate Survival Alaska, one of the best survival shows, are subjecting themselves to this challenging terrain. Shows about Alaska are popular simply because it's the considered the last frontier in the Western hemisphere in many ways.
Divided into four teams—woodsmen, mountaineers, military veterans, and endurance athletes—the contestants aren't in it for a grand prize. Instead, the sheer joy of conquering Alaska's mountains, glaciers, forests, deep valleys, and wildlife drives them to survive the location's harsh conditions. The unique team categories and Alaskan wilderness make the series intriguing and nail-biting.
9 Surviving Disaster
Watch On Prime Video
Surviving Disaster, hosted by former Navy SEAL Cade Courtley, is a gripping series dedicated to equipping viewers with essential knowledge for navigating the most daunting of situations, from natural calamities to pandemics and manmade disasters. Its unique focus on providing practical advice tailored to the audience's needs has garnered it acclaim as one of the premier survival shows available. Unfortunately, it only aired for one season.
Despite its single-season run, the series remains a compelling exploration of worst-case scenarios, offering a sobering yet empowering look at the resilience of the human spirit. Beyond its television broadcast, Surviving Disaster has also made waves online, with episodes available for streaming on various platforms, allowing viewers to access its invaluable insights at their convenience.
Through its comprehensive coverage and emphasis on preparedness, the show serves as a vital resource for individuals seeking to enhance their survival skills and readiness for whatever challenges may arise.
8 Man Vs. Wild
Watch On Discovery+
One of the most popular survival shows, Man vs. Wild, not only offers a thrilling survival experience to viewers but also inspires and educates. Leading the show with his forte and charm, Bear Grylls navigates some of the most inhospitable environments on Earth. He even sometimes has celebrities him in the Bear Grylls universe. It's entertaining and informative to watch.
While he's at it, he does not hold himself back from giving viewers a bang for their buck by portraying an unflinching look at survival. Whether to learn more about survival or solely enjoy Grylls' nail-biting feats of bravery, there's much to look forward to in this one. It's the series that first brought Bear Grylls to the forefront of audiences' minds and the show that ultimately launched his very successful career in survival television.
7 Survivorman
Watch On Prime Video
Akin to Bear Grylls, survival expert Les Stroud purposefully strands himself in dangerous remote locations for a week in one of the best survival shows, Survivorman. With no food supplies or fancy equipment, the outdoorsman relies on his survival expertise and navigates viewers through his experience with his one-man camera rig.
The flair with which Stroud deals with every obstacle that comes his way is entertaining enough to keep most viewers hooked. But going a step further, the show offers valuable insights into survival tactics that might be useful for many. Ultimately, Survivorman is an easy show to love, becoming a staple of its genre.
6 Dual Survival
Watch On Max
Dual Survival, as the name implies, features not one but two expert survivalists, Dave Canterbury and Cody Lundin, each with a starkly different method of braving extreme environments. The two experts exchange ideas and debate methods in various corners of the world in one of the best survival shows, sometimes taking the opportunity to prove which way allows the viewer to be superior in the Discovery series.
This series is an excellent addition to the reality survival television pantheon, offering genuine tips from real-life experts and giving the viewer the opportunity to assess which survivalist they agree with. Dual Survival is unique and is, therefore, a must-watch for any die-hard survivalist. It was so popular that it also got a spinoff series titled Dual Survival Brazil.
