Zach Moser has been writing for ScreenRant since 2022, covering movies, classic TV, and streaming TV. His areas of expertise cover a wide range of genres with a particular interest in horror and drama, and the conversations around the TV and film industry. When he's not covering the latest film releases or chronicling the latest season of a new show, he's writing humor pieces for McSweeney's Internet Tendency, Slackjaw, and Points In Case or working on short stories and his second novel. 

One of the most brutal reality shows on television, the best seasons of Alone reflect its harrowing conditions. Airing on The History Channel, the show follows a group of contestants as they strive to survive in the cruel wilderness. A popular survival reality series, Alone, has aired 12 seasons, with the most recent coming in August 2025.

Every season of Alone takes place in some unforgiving wild landscape and starts the same, save for a tweak now and then. Contestants are given no more than 10 pre-approved survival items, and the last person standing wins the competition and a prize of up to $1 million.

Other than following local hunting laws and recording a set amount of footage, contestants are given free rein to do what they can to survive. Every season of the show introduces a new cast of expert, dedicated, and often strange contestants, who make each season unique, even if, on the surface, they appear the same.

12 Season 10 (2023)

Winner - Alan Tenta

Season 10 is probably the least notable installment of Alone. Taking place in Saskatchewan, Canada, it's essentially just like all the other seasons and doesn't change up the scenery, content to remain in the Canadian wilderness. The tap outs in season 10 were highly emotional, to be fair.

It came down to three contestants. Wyatt Black saw his time on Alone as an opportunity to confront his past and history with alcohol. Though he tapped out, it was ultimately a therapeutic experience. Mikey Helton couldn't stand to be away from his family any longer. Alan Tenta was then declared the winner and given the coveted $500,000 prize.

11 Season 12 (2025)

Winner - Nathan Olsen

For the first time in Alone history, season 12 took contestants to Africa, specifically the Great Karoo region in semi-arid South Africa. The idea of going to a novel area with different temperature extremes and new animals was intriguing, but it was very poorly planned, and the season felt inconsistent.

It was clear from the outset that participants had prepared to survive in a cold-weather climate, and while that did provide some fun moments of surprise, it didn't give many of them a fighting chance. Worse yet, season 12 has a lot of filler, suggesting there just wasn't much interesting going on with the cast.

10 Season 3 (2016)

Winner - Zach Fowler

Season 3 stands out because it was the first to move away from Canada after two seasons. Set in Patagonia, Argentina, season 3 has no shortage of extreme weather. Some notable moments include David Nessia almost dying from starvation while trying to survive. Another contestant, Carleigh Fairchild, tapped out when her BMI reached a dangerously low level.

Food was hard to come by in season 3; about a third of the contestants were struggling to hunt and fish enough. The winner of season 3, Zach Fowler, lost 70 pounds, over one-third of his body weight. While harsh conditions are what Alone is all about, when the food supply is low, the show can get monotonous.

9 Season 2 (2015)

Winner - David McIntyre

The sophomore season takes place in the same location as season 1, Quatsino, British Columbia. There are new contestants, but it doesn't do much to further the concept. Bears became a problem this season, with two contestants tapping out because of "bear scares", but winner, David McIntyre, stuck it out to win $500,000.

Season 2 separates itself from season 1 because it introduced the first reunion episode, checking back in with contestants from season 1. It also delivered an "episode zero", which detailed why each of the contestants was chosen. However, perhaps the most notable aspect of season 2 is that it is the first season to allow women to compete.

8 Season 11 (2024)

Winner - William Larkham Jr.

Season 11 of Alone moves the action to Inuvik, Northwest Territories, the series' northernmost location. Season 11 was filmed 125 miles north of the Arctic Circle, on the coast of the Arctic Ocean. However, season 11 didn't really capitalize on its extreme location like other seasons did.

The environment was surprisingly abundant in terms of wildlife, which made it feel a little easier. It's still entertaining, despite the stakes not being raised that much. There's still plenty of intrigue and scrapping to survive, with William Larkham Jr. eventually taking home the $500,000 prize. Season 11 isn't the strongest, but there are still some moments worth watching.

7 Season 8 (2021)

Winner - Clay Hayes

Season 8 saw Clay Hayes win the competition and the $500,000 reward. It takes place in Chilkco Lake, British Columbia. The season's subtitle, Grizzly Mountain, references the high-altitude environment the contestants stayed in, which made every single task just that much more difficult.

Season 8 was filmed during the height of the COVID-19 pandemic, which made the season weirdly relatable to watch in real time and now something of a time capsule. Clay Hayes and runner-up Biko Wright are two of the most charismatic contestants on the series, which makes for an excellent final few episodes.

6 Season 5 (2018)

Winner - Sam Larson

Season 5 is a reunion season, appropriately subtitled, Alone: Redemption. 10 contestants who had previously competed on the show but never won were invited back to the competition set in Northern Mongolia. The winner ended up being Sam Larson, who was the runner-up in Alone season 1.

Since all the contestants had competed before, viewers already knew each contestant's strategies and personalities. In most Alone seasons, it takes a few episodes before you know who's who. That's not a problem here. Season 5 brought familiar faces to an unpredictable landscape, which increased not only the tension but also the entertainment experience.

5 Season 9 (2022)

Winner - Juan Pablo Quiñonez

Alone season 9 saw contestants trying to survive in the Arctic region of Nunatsiavut, Labrador, Canada. Contestants did have access to a substantial amount of game in the form of beavers and caribou. Juan Pablo Quiñonez survived for a whopping 78 days in the Canadian Arctic.

This season introduced two digital sister-series: "The Ride Back", which is an in-depth look at the contestants' emotional states right before they tap out, and "Shelter From the Storm", an in-depth look at the shelters contestants have built. It's a complete season that offers a solid level of enjoyment.

4 Season 1 (2015)

Winner - Alan Kay

Season 1 is pivotal to Alone because it is the History show's maiden voyage. Season 1 establishes the Alone formula by pitting 10 contestants against each other in pursuit of survival in harsh conditions. Like season 2, Alone season 1 takes place in Quatsino, Port Hardy, British Columbia, and it sets up the traditional beats of the show right away.

Episodes and concepts are clear and to the point, so as not to confuse viewers. But, make no mistake, Alone brings the intensity right away. The winner, Alan Kay, lost over 45 pounds and lived off mainly limpets and seaweed. He won the Alone competition by surviving for 56 days.

3 Season 4 (2017)

Winners - Jim And Ted Baird

Season 4 shook up the Alone formula in a big way. Instead of 10 individual contestants, the show changed to a pair format. Seven pairs of family members, from siblings to spouses, worked together to survive. Brothers Jim and Ted Baird eventually won the contest. Season 4 took place in Quatsino, British Columbia, Canada.

Following seven pairs allows for intricate character moments that the other seasons didn't have. The season is fittingly titled Lost & Found because the pairs start out separated and have to find one another. It's a twist on the Alone formula that has been wisely utilized only once.