game shows

Televised prize contests

Game shows are television programs where contestants compete for prizes by answering questions, solving puzzles, or performing tasks.

The format typically features a host, rules governing play, and escalating stakes: She won a car on a game show.

Classic examples include quiz shows testing knowledge and shows based on luck or physical challenges.

The term sometimes extends to radio programs or online competitions following similar formats.

Opposites
scripted vs. unscripted content

game showsdramas

Serious theatrical works

soap operas · telenovelas · miniseries · dramatic series · sitcoms

competition vs. narrative

game showsserialized fiction

Story released incrementally

anthology series · documentary films · docudramas · biopics · historical dramas

entertainment format

game showsdocumentaries

Films depicting real events

hard news · investigative journalism · educational television · talk shows · lecture series

Family

show, game, gaming, gambit, gamer, game show, gamely, gamers, gamekeeper

Familiarity
Top 20,000
Profile
Known to kids · Used worldwide · Timeless · Concrete · Positive · Everyday, not technical · Rated G