Ninja courses, giant red balls and a Napoleonic sea fort full of tigers all share one rule: slip once and you're out. Some of these shows crowned elite athletes, others just wanted to watch strangers splash.
1WipeoutABC's slapstick course of big red balls, sucker punchers and endless splashdowns into muddy water.1000pts
2American Ninja WarriorNBC's long-running adaptation of Sasuke where athletes attack the Warped Wall and Mount Midoriyama.832pts
3Australian Ninja WarriorNine Network's ninja version, a ratings smash in Australia from its 2017 debut.636pts
4The Titan GamesDwayne Johnson's NBC competition pitting everyday people against head-to-head strength and obstacle challenges.636pts
5Takeshi's CastleTakeshi Kitano's chaotic 1980s Japanese game show where hordes of contestants storm the count's castle.538pts
6SasukeThe Japanese original from TBS, a brutal four-stage course that only a handful of competitors have ever completed.538pts
7MXCSpike TV's Most Extreme Elimination Challenge, which redubbed Takeshi's Castle footage with absurd commentary.538pts
8Holey MoleyABC's extreme mini-golf competition where putts must survive windmills, ramps and water traps.538pts
9Ninja Warrior UKITV's British version of the ninja format, hosted by Ben Shephard, Chris Kamara and Rochelle Humes.418pts
10Ultimate BeastmasterNetflix's multinational competition in which athletes from six countries climb through a giant mechanical beast.418pts
11Total WipeoutThe BBC's Argentina-filmed take on the format, hosted by Richard Hammond and Amanda Byram.418pts
12Spartan: Ultimate Team ChallengeNBC series built on Spartan Race obstacles, with teams of three racing a stadium course.0pts
13Fort BoyardThe French classic set in a real Napoleonic sea fort, full of physical trials, puzzles and tigers.0pts
14GladiatorsThe British hit whose contestants battled lycra-clad Gladiators and finished on the frantic Eliminator course.0pts
15Floor Is LavaNetflix's family-friendly series where teams cross rooms flooded with bubbling fake lava.0pts
