The Greatest Game Shows of All Time
What are the greatest game shows of all time? If there's one staple of American television, it's the game show. Over the decades, TV game shows have evolved with the times. Today, some of them combine elements of reality televison, while others stick to their guns and keep their original formats. Shows like Jeopardy! and Wheel of Fortune are good examples of this. They're popular for a reason: People love to play along at home, which is why there are new game shows every year. Which TV game show is the best ever? That's for you to decide here, with your votes. Vote up your favorites and of course, vote down any game shows you can't stand.
Almost everyone loves a good television game show. We enjoy rooting for the contestants as they try to answer questions correctly, estimate prices of items (no going over, Price is Right players!), wheel and deal with hosts to pick the best prizes (Let's Make a Deal) and navigate extremely tricky obstacle courses to win big money (Wipeout). Are you a viewer who pulls for the underdog? You probably aren't alone.
Dating-based game shows have been popular for years, going back to Match Game, The Dating Game and The Newlywed Game. Trivia game shows will forever be a favorite, as contestants try to answer questions correctly to win cash and prizes. As far as prizes go, we've come a long way from buying that tacky ceramic Dalmatian on Wheel of Fortune. Cash prizes for game shows now are easily in the tens of thousands, possibly more. Bigger prizes make for bigger competition!
Enjoy this list of the greatest game shows in television history and don't forget to vote. Also, feel free to add any of your favorite shows that are missing, and rerank them into your own list!
Check out more lists like Game Show Fails and The Best Game Shows to Play Along at Home.
- Mike Richards, Alex Trebek, Johnny Gilbert
- Premiered: September 10, 1984
- Al Roker, Richard Dawson, Louie Anderson
- Premiered: 1976
- Bob Barker, Janice Pennington, Dian Parkinson
- Premiered: September 4, 1972
- Pat Sajak, Vanna White, Charlie O'Donnell
- Premiered: January 6, 1975
- Betty White, Patty Duke, Richard Dawson
- Premiered: July 2, 1973
- Regis Philbin, Meredith Vieira, Terry Crews
- Premiered: August 16, 1999
- Betty White, Allen Ludden, Gene Wood
- Premiered: October 2, 1961
- Betty White, Dick Clark, Dara Torres
- Premiered: 1973
- Peter Tomarken, Savage Steve Holland, Charlie O'Donnell
- Premiered: 1983
- Tom Bergeron, Shadoe Stevens, Whoopi Goldberg
- Premiered: October 17, 1966
- Wayne Brady, Jonathan Mangum, Rob Marrocco Jr.
- Premiered: October 5, 2009
- Bob Clayton, Jack Clark
- Premiered: June 26, 2016
- Ryan Stiles, Colin Mochrie, Wayne Brady
- Premiered: July 16, 2013
- Chris Tarrant, Jeremy Clarkson
- Premiered: 1998
- Arlene Francis, Dorothy Kilgallen, Louis Untermeyer
- Premiered: 1951
- Charlie O'Donnell, Bill Cullen, Jack Barry
- Premiered: 1972
- Ben Bailey, Beth Melewski
- Premiered: 2005
- David Ruprecht
- Premiered: 1965
- Bob Hilton, Charlie O'Donnell, Johnny Jacobs
- Premiered: July 11, 1966
- Howie Mandel, Sara Bronson, Lindsay Clubine
- Premiered: 2005
- Jeff Foxworthy, John Cena
- Premiered: February 27, 2007
- George DeWitt
- Premiered: 1952
- Joel McHale, Markie Post, Bob Eubanks
- Premiered: April 24, 1978
- Bradley Walsh
- Premiered: 2009
- Don Cameron
- Premiered: 1962