Survivor history: Determining the six eras of gameplay

The Classic Era (Seasons 1-8)

The first era of Survivor spans all the way from Borneo to All-Stars. This is back when the screen time focused on the contestants actually surviving, which is shown less and less in each of these eight seasons.

These seasons featured so many iconic players. Unlike future seasons, these castaways achieved real fame. This era is full of all-time great players. Rupert Boneham, perhaps the most iconic player in the history of the game, exerted the Classic Era playing style the most with a focus on thriving at camp.

Emphasis on fire, water, shelter, and food was among the necessities that defined the era. The idea of 16 Americans being stranded on an island and working to survive was addicting for Americans to watch. Camp life was far more prominent than gameplay.

The first two seasons of the show presented a focus on tribes and consisted of post-merge Pagongings. Survivor: Africa spiced things up with the first ever tribe swap in an episode simply named “The Twist.” This represented the first major shift in Survivor strategy. This is a prime example of the game figuring itself out over time.

While Hatch proved that strategy was the key to winning the million, cutthroat moves were still seen as controversial by many viewers. Rob Cesternino flipping back and forth constantly brought a new sense of excitement to the game. A more strategical game became accepted by many viewers.

Survivor: All-Stars, although not the most beloved season, was a fitting conclusion to the era. Numerous castaways facing off that had become famous from Survivor. While future eras would feature castaways who were popular, it did not produce anywhere near as many as in the first eight, who set themselves apart in the history of the game.