10 of the Most Unique Daily Challenges We’ve Seen on The Challenge

Heights over water. Trivia. Collecting puzzle pieces in water. Challenge viewers expect these daily challenges throughout seasons. So when we see something outside of the norm, we stop and stare.

These 10 challenges definitely don’t fit into the regular Challenge mold. In most cases, they highlight aspects of the season’s format that differentiates it from others or it incorporates elements that are seldom (or never) replicated on the show.

Of course, The Challenge has many unique competitions, so this is just 10 unique examples — not all of them. And just to be clear, these are not the best daily challenges, but I did enjoy them all. Unique competitions that ended up sucking probably won’t make the list.

Come Sail Away (The Inferno)

This mission was literally just a competition to make the most money at a Challenge garage sale. It didn’t require strength or smarts, and it forced competitors to interact with the public (something we definitely won’t see again). Because of this, it sticks out as an anomaly, but it was surprisingly fun to watch.

The Pit (The Gauntlet 2)

This competition required teams to escape from a pit by any means necessary. While they were able to get the majority of the team out by climbing on each other and using cheerleading strategies, the final couple of people needed to think outside the box. The veterans failed, but climbing master Alton figured out how to get it done.

Roller Derby (The Duel)

It’s very rare to see cast members put on roller skates (but it has happened before, like Disco Domino Derby on The Inferno). However, this was a race, and tackling was encouraged. Some how, this led to one of the more intense competitions on The Duel, and it was also an opportunity for unlikely competitors to shine.

All Wound Up (The Duel 2)

Everyone loves a good physical competition, but this game required speed and strength — yet competitors couldn’t touch each other. Rather, they had to shake ropes until their opponents fell off, and Ruthie proved that you don’t need to be the biggest or baddest to win.

Rotary Club (The Ruins)

We haven’t seen a game similar to this one because it’s one of the dumbest competitions to ever get approved. Competitors rolled down hills in giant tires, which could result in serious injuries if things went awry. Luckily, no one was injured too badly, but in retrospect, the show got very lucky that no one needed surgery after this. Still, it was kind of fun and hilarious to watch.

Bottleneck Stampede (Cutthroat)

Cutthroat is unique because it had three separate teams, and no challenge took advantage of this format better than Bottleneck Stampede. The game forced players to squeeze through tight and narrow spaces, and the first full team to cross the finish line won. So, competitors could hold their opponents hostage or they could race to the end without helping their teammates. There was no clear strategy, and we’ve yet to see another challenge like this one.

Race to the Altar (Battle of the Exes)

It’s always fun to see challenges where players are funneled out of the competition at each stage. This daily challenge did that and tested players in a variety of areas. But, the thing that makes Race to the Altar so unique is the fact that it really embraced the Exes theme. More recent challenges seem to have odd formates, and it’s hard to fully integrate them into the daily challenges. This seemed to work effortlessly, and it gave us some memorable moments.

Laps of Judgement (Rivals 3)

If there’s one thing Rivals 3 did well, it was reintroducing fun, silly challenges into the game. This race forced rivals — who were already prone to disagreeing — to pick between two options and complete a course as quickly as possible. Up All Night or Bridging the Gap could also be on this list for their unique gameplay, but this daily challenge (literally) takes the cake when it comes to quirky competitions.

Tired Out (War of the Worlds)

We’ve seen a few challenges that force competitors to traverse inner tubes, but this took the race out of water and put it on sand. The game was gritty, and difficult, but it fully embodied the Mad Max-inspired War of the Worlds theme. Plus, competitors could release their opponent if they completed the course first, which upped the cool factor.

Crash Course (Total Madness)

Competitors were essentially bowling in a car and their opponents were standing atop the pins. It’s uncommon for cast members to actually get to drive a car, but in this challenge, they got to be stunt drivers. Plus, this is the type of challenge that can only work toward the end of an individual season when the cast is smaller.

Hell’s Gate (World Championship)

Sometimes, the simplest formats make for the best competitions. This challenge forced partners to race the clock and slide under a gate before it shut. The competition was given an extra layer of complexity because both partners needed to get into the safe zone in time, and this added a little drama to an already-tense game. Honestly, this type of a game should have been used years ago.