The best seasons of MTV's 'The Challenge'

Typically on The Challenge, contestants are partnered with another individual or on a team. But for MTV’s 25th season of this iconic reality competition series, Bunim/Murray Productions decided to switch it up. Free Agents featured 28 contestants, all of whom competed as individuals. This season was threaded with scandals, shocking challenges, and messy hookups. But regardless of strategy, host TJ Lavin said it best: The only way to stay safe in this game is to win.  

The Challenge: XXX is the 30th season of the MTV franchise. It featured 31 of the “dirtiest players” playing the “dirtiest games.” Best friends stabbed each other in the back, allies flipped, and as always, contestants turned up. 

Rivals I is the 21st season of The Challenge and was filmed in beautiful Costa Rica. This season was the first of its kind and paired contestants with their No. 1 enemy from previous seasons of The Challenge and The Real World. The drama between contestants was explosive and reached new heights thanks to CT, Wes, Paula, and Adam.   

Like its predecessor, Rivals II put contestants to the test. With the same format, a new batch of players, and $350,000 on the line, MTV plopped 33 savage players off in Phuket, Thailand, where they gave viewers one hell of a season. If you’re into blindsides, physical competitions, and an unhinged Aneesa, this is must-see TV. 

Rivals III was the perfect end to a fantastic Challenge trilogy. Unlike the other seasons, contestants were teamed up with their rivals of the opposite sex. Tony and Camila were the doses of entertainment viewers needed, and the $350K grand prize motivated players to scheme like never before. 

The Challenge: Battle of the Bloodlines is a unique season, primarily because of its format. It’s the first season in which contestants were paired with a family member. If you thought a regular season of The Challenge was intense, imagine what it’s like when you’re competing alongside your bloodline for $300,000. 

War of the Worlds is a unique season — primarily because of Da’Vonne’s star power in the confessional chair and how intense these contestants played. It featured other Big Brother houseguests, including Paulie Calafiore. And if you’re a fan of a competition beast who is unafraid to get their hands dirty, he’s your guy. 

Battle of the Exes is just what it sounds like — challengers competing alongside their ex-romantic partners. Awkward for them, amazing for us.  

Although The Challenge: Battle of the Exes II is full of fiery feuds and over-the-top drama, that's not the reason many fans and players love it. It was the last season to feature Challenge veterans Diem Brown and Ryan Knight, who died in November 2014. 

If you considered the previous seasons of The Challenge to be cutthroat, this one takes it to another level. This season features black eyes, bar fights, and even a tightrope competition. But things get personal whenever someone is sent to battle it out in the Gulag. And with an extreme final challenge, it ends with two Challenge vets in the hospital. 

Vendettas is the 31st season of The Challenge and is the second of the franchise’s revenge trilogy. It featured a grand prize of $500,000, twists like no other, and two sets of mercenaries (Aneesa, Derrick, Jordan, and Tori) brought back to shake up the game.  

We could never forget about such an iconic season of The Challenge . It showcases legendary cast members like Mike “The Miz” Mizanin, Darrell Taylor, and Veronica Portillo and tells an awesome underdog story. 

The 29th season of The Challenge is a great watch for those interested in an ever-changing story. The drama is childish at points (like most reality TV), but boy, is it exciting. There are champ vs. champ face-offs and strategic moves out of this world. Plus, a shocking conclusion to a gripping season. 

The Challenge: War of the Worlds 2 is the perfect sequel to the show’s 33rd season. It was filmed in Chiang Mai and Phuket, Thailand, and featured 32 contestants from 14 different reality shows. This season, contestants were competing for $1 million, and with that, you best believe they were willing to do anything to take home the cash prize. 

Final Reckoning is similar to other seasons in that it features a rival of some sort. Season 32 saw the return of some Challenge greats and the introductions of many rookies to a noteworthy franchise. Filmed in Hermanus, South Africa, this is one of the only seasons to feature a redemption house — an off-site home where eliminated players compete in challenges to earn their way back into the game.