The Best Reality TV Shows of 2025

It is that time of the year again where everyone releases their list of the best movies, shows, and performances. This truly is one of my favorite times of the year because you reflect on everything you’ve watched and start to put together these lists. As a critic, narrowing down the list can be hard because you are battling the sheer amount of content that you consumed. That said, after a long battle of tinkering with my lists, today I share with you the best reality TV shows of 2025. 

Over the past two years, I’ve really wanted to get into the TV game more, which is quite a bit more time-consuming than movies. As a voting member of Critics Choice in both the movie and TV branches, the last two months have been spent honing in on my ballot on both sides of the world. This really allowed me to catch up on much of what I missed, followed by whittling down the best of the best. 

The Best Reality TV Shows of 2025

Extracted (FOX)

Competitors face extreme conditions in the wilderness while their families watch via a live feed and can decide their fate by negotiating to send essential lifelines or by pressing the “Extract” button, removing their family from the competition. Take a look at my interview with the winner of season 1 of Extracted.

Million Dollar Secret (Netflix)

One player starts with $1 million, while 11 others engage in a countrywide pursuit to track and capture them, hoping to claim the cash prize for themselves. Check out my interview with cast members Sydnee Falkner and Chris Allen.

Building The Band (Netflix)

Musicians are brought together for a chance to form their own band; what will happen when the bands finally meet and looks, choreography and style come into play? Take a look at my interviews with SZN4 and Soulidified.

The Traitors Season 3 (Peacock)

Twenty of America’s most cunning contestants, a mix of famous faces and everyday Americans, play the ultimate murder mystery game. Hosted by award-winning actor Alan Cumming at an ancient castle in Scotland, they will work together on exhilarating missions to build a prize fund worth up to $250,000. But hidden amongst the Faithful contestants are the Traitors, whose goal is to eliminate the Faithful and claim the prize for themselves. Under the cover of darkness, the Traitors will murder the Faithful one by one in a treacherous spree while the players try to uncover the Traitors and banish them from the game. If the Faithful contestants banish all the Traitors, they will share the prize fund, but if a Traitor makes it to the end, they will steal all the money.

Destination X (NBC)

In a globetrotting reality competition hosted by Jeffrey Dean Morgan, 10 players embark on the international adventure of a lifetime as they travel across Europe in a bus with blacked-out windows to beautiful yet mysterious locations. Every episode, they must compete in challenges to earn clues that will help them answer one simple question… where in the world are they? Using their wits as a guide, the players create alliances and rivalries at every stop, all in the hopes of taking home a life-changing cash prize. Check out my interview with the showrunner from Destination X Andy Cadman.

Battle Camp (Netflix)

Netflix reality stars battle in a remote camp where a spinning wheel determines elimination. Through physical trials, harsh punishments, and social gameplay, competitors fight to stay off the wheel and win $250,000. Check out my interviews with Georgia and Chase, Trey and Lorenzo, and Gabi and Louis.

The Snake (FOX)

Hosted by comedian Jim Jefferies, the show features 15 contestants who compete in a social survival game where they must form alliances, betray others, and use their persuasive skills to avoid elimination and win a (\$100,000) prize. Each week, one contestant becomes “The Snake” and gains power over the elimination process.  Check out my interview with the winner here and my favorite from the show, Kethryn.

Married at First Sight Season 19

The cart comes way before the horse in the reality series “Married at First Sight.” Based on a hit Danish format, “Married…” features people who agree to participate in an extreme experiment: Each covenants legal marriage with a complete stranger. Specialists — including a spiritualist, a relationship coach and a sociologist — use scientific matchmaking methods to determine each couple, who will not have met or had contact with each other until the wedding day. The series then documents the relationships, including honeymoons and other relatable events of married life. After several weeks, each couple must decide whether to remain together or go their individual ways. Check out our interview with cast members Brittany and Meghann.