“Incredibly entertaining”: 10 “superb” reality TV game shows on BBC, ITV, Netflix and more

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Television discovered that unscripted shows, focusing on creative ideas and compelling settings, could create more excitement, unexpected moments, and emotional connection with viewers than traditional scripted dramas.

These shows are incredibly captivating and thrilling, even if they don’t follow traditional plots. They offer compelling stories, emotional experiences, and plenty of drama – all featuring real people, not actors.

It’s no surprise that The Traitors would be at the very top of any recommendation list. By April 2026, everyone will already know how good it is!

1. Race Across the World (BBC iPlayer)

If you enjoy reality TV competitions, Race Across the World is one of the best. Teams of two – whether families, couples, or friends – compete to travel thousands of miles with very little money and no planes or internet. The first team to reach the final destination wins £20,000.

But it’s not really about the money, of course.

This competition really challenges relationships, as teams scramble for free rides, affordable lodging, and ways to save money – all to get ahead. Throughout the race, partners will bond, argue, and ultimately rely on each other.

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As expected, a celebrity version launched in 2023, offering the same exciting mix of challenges, clever gameplay, and emotional moments that make the original so enjoyable and captivating.

2. The Circle (Channel 4 and Netflix)

Unlike shows like Race Across The World, The Circle is set entirely within a single apartment building. Contestants can only interact with each other through a special app, and they have the option to be their true selves or create a fake online persona to try and win the game.

The game is incredibly funny and hard to stop playing. It’s amazing how people can become friends or even rivals just by interacting online, without ever meeting in person. It also makes you realize how little you really know about the people you connect with online.

The British version of the show ended in 2021, but the American version on Netflix lasted for seven seasons until 2024. Regardless, it’s a great show for anyone who enjoys unexpected plot twists.

3. Destination X (BBC iPlayer)

In 2025, the BBC’s most popular new reality show was a unique competition where thirteen contestants traveled across Europe in a bus with completely covered windows. Without knowing their location, they had to complete challenges and gather clues to figure out where they were. Each round, the contestant with the most inaccurate guess was eliminated.

Rob Brydon hosts the show, which viewers enjoyed playing along with so much that it’s been renewed for another season. Filming for the second season is planned to begin later this year.

4. Big Brother (ITVX)

Although not the absolute first of its kind, Big Brother truly launched reality television into widespread popularity. Since debuting in 2000 with its iconic opening line – “You are live on Channel 4 – please do not swear” – the show has given us countless memorable moments.

You can currently watch the show on ITV, with AJ Odudu and Will Best as hosts. The previous three seasons are also available to stream on ITVX.

The show is pretty straightforward: a group of people, called housemates, live together in a custom-built house and have no contact with the outside world. They’re constantly filmed and recorded, and viewers vote people off one by one until only one housemate is left – the winner. Essentially, it’s a competition based on how popular people are.

5. The Summit (ITVX)

This exciting new reality series is getting a lot of attention, and it’s both thrilling and challenging to watch. Hosted by Ben Shephard, the show follows 14 contestants as they race to the top of a stunning New Zealand mountain, all while carrying the prize money they’re competing for. And no, they can’t just take a shortcut and run away!

Beautiful and awe-inspiring, The Summit presents both physical and mental difficulties amidst a strikingly harsh, yet gorgeous, landscape.

6. Hunted (Channel 4)

Similar to an action movie like the Bourne series, everyday people – and sometimes famous ones – intentionally disappear and try to survive for up to a month without being found by law enforcement, which includes police, the military, and intelligence agencies.

Okay, so the trackers don’t directly tap into police cameras, but they get tipped off when the runners are driving around. It’s basically the same info the cops would have if they knew my license plate – so it’s a really close second to having full police tracking access, honestly.

Contestants who avoid being caught can win a portion of a £100,000 prize. The show is incredibly suspenseful and hard to stop watching.

7. The Fortune Hotel (ITVX)

Hosted by the delightful Stephen Mangan, ten teams of contestants compete at a beautiful resort in Grenada for a chance to win £250,000. They must figure out which of several identical briefcases contains the prize money, but they also need to avoid receiving the “Early Checkout Card,” which would eliminate them from the competition and send them home.

It’s a high-stakes game where everyone’s trying to end up with the prize – and success depends on skillfully navigating twists of fate and outsmarting the competition.

It’s a beguiling mix of suspense and drama that keeps you hooked to the final reveal.

8. The Mole (Netflix)

Before the popular show The Traitors gained attention, there was a similar program called The Mole. It first aired in Belgium, had a short-lived run on Channel 5 in the UK in 2001, and ultimately became successful in the United States.

Contestants work together to tackle challenges and earn money for a group prize, but one of them is secretly trying to sabotage their efforts and keep the prize pot small. Just like in The Traitors, we, the viewers, won’t know who the saboteur is!

After each round, players answer questions about who they believe the Mole is. The person with the fewest correct answers is eliminated, and the last player remaining who correctly guesses the Mole wins the prize money.

9. 007 Road to a Million (Prime Video)

Hosted by the energetic Brian Cox, who playfully compared the experience to filming a Bond movie, nine pairs of contestants battled it out in challenges inspired by the iconic films. The lavish production reportedly caused some concern among Jeff Bezos’ financial team.

The show has a big budget, sending contestants on an incredible journey from Scotland to Italy, the Amazon rainforest, Venice, and the Chilean desert. They’re constantly on the run, facing challenges, solving puzzles, and competing to escape. While the game itself isn’t groundbreaking, the locations are absolutely stunning.

10. SAS Who Dares Wins (Channel 4)

This isn’t related to the drama series SAS: Rogue Heroes. This game show pushes contestants to their absolute physical and emotional limits. Both regular people (in past seasons) and celebrities now live together in very difficult conditions, and are constantly challenged by ex-special forces instructors.

UK viewers might notice the SAS contestants appear very skilled, confident, and humble. In contrast, it seems producers are working hard to prevent one US contestant, Rudy Reyes, from showing off on camera.

The selection process is incredibly demanding, pushing applicants to their limits with dangerous challenges like cliff jumps, exposure to tear gas, and escapes from pursuit dogs. Even if they finish – and many don’t, either due to medical issues or by quitting – only the candidates the selectors approve are considered to have successfully completed the course. A notable example is Matt Hancock, who finished the course but was ultimately disqualified.

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2026-04-07 11:22