Top 10 Best Nickelodeon Game Shows

The newest game show on the list, “BrainSurge” had a lot going for itself! Hosted by Jeff Sutphen, “BrainSurge” pitted six kids against each other in a test of memorization and quick reflexes. From matching images to remembering the details of an absurd story, this show proved to be a great way to get kids to think and strengthen their memories. The show also had a surprising amount of production value, featuring cartoons of said stories and even chairs that would reel contestants into a giant mouth. Needless to say, this was a game show we would have loved to have seen live! Unfortunately, “BrainSurge” only lasted three seasons, getting cancelled in 2011 and airing on Nicktoons until 2014.

This was one of a handful of game shows filmed at Nickelodeon Studios in Orlando, Florida. While "Get the Picture" was short-lived, lasting just two seasons, it was still a solid show. Two teams of two players must analyze a giant screen made up of smaller screens to guess what the hidden image is. However, each team would have to answer an array of different questions in order to claim squares. Sounds basic enough, but it was easy to get into and made for an entertaining evening of yelling answers at our screens.

If trivia wasn’t your thing, you probably got hooked watching “Wild & Crazy Kids”. Whereas most of Nickelodeon’s game shows centered around trivia, “Wild & Crazy Kids” was all about physical challenges and stunts, and they did them well! Ever wanted to see an RC car race through a track littered with mines? How about a game of human pinata, or riding a wild roller coaster while trying not to spill your drink? The editing and sound may not have aged too well (this was the 90’s), but this show was one for the daredevils! It was so much fun that 10 years after its original run, it was brought back for a 2002 revival!

Were you the type of kid to be buried in spot-the-difference puzzles, and picture books with hidden objects on every page? If so, you may have found solace in “Finders Keepers”. For this game show, two teams of two kids would be given a picture with a few hidden images. After which, they’d be given a clue and have to buzz in to circle the correct object. The more correct answers meant the more rooms you got to search in the house. Once inside, teams had to search their respective rooms to find an object related to a clue. This was easier said than done, but the challenge, tension, and cleverly worded clues made “Finders Keepers” a pleasure to watch.

This was one game show you may or may not have wanted to find yourself in . . . depending on how adventurous you are. In “What Would You Do?”, anyone could be a contestant! However, most challenges required a good amount of bravery and courage. Anyone who volunteered to come onto the stage would be asked to do things like: eat weird food, use your feet to pick up eggs, gargle water while singing, put on a play based on “Dudley Do-Right”... Yeah, “What Would You Do” was a very weird show, but it's nonchalant and fun-loving nature was a nice break.

Imagine if the Olympics were a tad bit weirder and designed for kids. The end result would be “GUTS”, Nickelodeon’s sports show where kids took part in “extreme” challenges. It seemed like there was no limit to the show’s creativity, with contestants firing arrows while tied to bungee cords, swimming against a wave pool, or of course, running through massive obstacle courses. The show proved to be so popular that it ended up getting two spin-off shows - “Global GUTS”, which featured contestants from other countries, and “My Family’s Got GUTS” which narrowed the contestants down to two families.

It pays to keep secrets, especially if you competed on “Figure It Out”. The title may be simple, but don’t underestimate its difficulty. A panel of contestants must ask “yes or no” questions to figure out the talent of the guest (or guests) of the show. Should the panel fail, the guest receives a fabulous prize in the form of used props from other Nickelodeon game shows or toys and gift cards. While the show only stuck around for a couple of years, it saw a brief revival in 2012 and 2013, hosted by “BrainSurge’s” Jeff Sutphen. Here’s hoping it’ll come back again in the near future!

Nickelodeon was doing the whole "e-sports" thing WAY before we even knew what an "esport" was. (Well...kind of…) "Nick Arcade" had contestants step inside the world of gaming to complete a variety of different challenges. While it may look cheesy due to the advancements in virtual reality and chroma key technology, our child minds were freaking out about how realistic it looked. Yeah, they weren't stepping into anything familiar like "Donkey Kong" or "Pac-Man", but the creative concept had us begging our parents to bring us to Orlando.

Nickelodeon was really good at creating game shows that evoked a sense of adventure. If you weren't a fan of "Nick Arcade's" virtual worlds, you were most likely watching "Legends of the Hidden Temple". Twelve kids are divided into six teams and must compete in a series of physical challenges and trivia questions. The last team standing gets a shot at exploring Olmec's temple to find all three pieces of the Silver Monkey, to retrieve an artifact. With its suspenseful moat races and guards waiting to ambush players, this was Nickelodeon's most intense game show! The good news is, it’s getting a 2020 reboot for adults!

Before we reveal our top pick, here are a few Honorable Mentions…

“Think Fast” (1989-90)

“Make the Grade” (1989-91)

“Scaredy Camp” (2002-03)

“Slime Time Live” (2000-03)

“You’re On!” (1998)

What Nickelodeon fan hasn’t heard of “Double Dare”? Before “Legends of the Hidden Temple” made its mark, “Double Dare” had families gathered around their TV screens, ready for a night of trivia and quick challenges! “Double Dare” is more than just answering questions; the team in control can dare their opponents to answer the question, but their opponents have the power to double-dare right back. If a team is met with a double-dare, they must answer the question or take part in an often messy physical challenge. The show was such a hit, it was revived in the year 2000, and again in 2018!