10 TV Shows Like Traitors That You Should Watch in the Future.
What began as “De Verraders” back in 2021 has become a global reality TV phenomenon: Peacock airs the American version , starring the impeccably styled Alan Cumming, as well as an earlier British version and versions from Australia, Canada, and New Zealand—but there are also spinoffs in France, India, Germany, Ireland, Turkey, and elsewhere. Basically, throw a dart at a map, and you’ll likely land in a country with its own version of “De Verraders.” And yet! The addictive nature of reality TV means we can never get enough. In that spirit, here’s some more reality TV gossip and a couple of dramas that offer similarly gripping moments of duplicity.
Mole (2001–2008, 2022–2024)
A reality show with a complex history closely related to “Traitors,” the plot is so similar that it may have served as inspiration. Here, contestants collaborate on tasks to collect a prize fund. But it’s not all fun: the group includes a secret double agent (the mole, of course), whose sole mission is to prevent the others from earning money. Selection is determined by a quiz: the group is tested on their knowledge of the mole, and the one with the least knowledge is eliminated. The show first aired in the 2000s, and Netflix recently brought it back for several seasons, with more likely.Watch the latest seasons of “The Mole” on Netflix .
The Devil’s Plan (2023 – )
If there were an award for a catchy title (and stage design), this one would be far from bad. This South Korean reality show features 12 celebrities competing to build a prize pool through strategy games. Sometimes it’s teamwork, sometimes purely competitive, and sometimes a combination of both, but prizes are awarded in the form of “chips” that can be won or lost (and which are ultimately combined to create their own final puzzle). Anyone with no chips left is eliminated. Chips can be used to purchase perks and can also be traded, so the show challenges players to form alliances to build a prize pool and survive as long as possible.Watch “The Devil’s Plan” on Netflix .
Circle (2020 – )
Here, a group of strangers are locked in an apartment building, cut off from the outside world—and from each other. Players can only interact through a special app and can therefore present themselves however they choose, whether that means being 100% authentic (unlikely!) or creating a completely new persona. Players evaluate participants based on their interactions, determining “influencers” who will decide on elimination. The show aired forseven seasons on Netflix , with an eighth season coming to Hulu. Watch “The Circle” on Hulu .
The Million Dollar Secret (2025–)
You arrive at a posh hotel, and someone hands you a suitcase containing a million dollars. It’s yours—if you can keep it a secret. In this show, all the contestants receive suitcases, and only one contains the money. Like in “Traitors,” the goal is to find out who’s keeping the secret, and challenges are designed to help uncover that person. If the truth is revealed by a vote, the former millionaire is eliminated, and the money is hidden in the other suitcase until the finalists get the chance to swap suitcases with whoever they believe is keeping the money. Easy come, easy go, I guess.Watch “Million Dollar Secret” on Netflix.
House of Villains (2023–)
Personally, I prefer the regular people in “Traitors,” but there’s no doubt that much of the appeal (in most seasons) is watching reality TV celebrities compete for money. The same is true of “House of Villains,” a “Big Brother” -style competition show hosted by Joel McHale. The basic premise is simple: villains (Richard Hatch, Tom Sandoval, Jonny Fairplay, Trump’s former best friend Omarosa Newman, and others) compete in challenges for rewards and safety from inevitable expulsion. It’s mostly just an excuse to watch TV’s biggest stars go head-to-head. Watch “House of Villains” on Peacock.
Show “8” (2024)
This isn’t a reality show, but rather a drama about a reality show, which may well satisfy your thirst for betrayal while offering consequences more dramatic than the bruised egos and hurt feelings in “Traitors.” Here, eight strangers are chosen to participate in a game in which they are locked together in a building, assigned to a different floor each night. They earn money for every minute they play, but all their supplies must be purchased with their winnings at a huge markup. At first, the participants pool their resources to ensure everyone gets more money—until they discover that people on the higher floors earn more. Then things get messy.Watch “Show 8” on Netflix .
Trust: A Game of Greed (2024)
This game is somewhat like a reverse “Traitors” : the $250,000 prize pool is immediately divided among all 11 contestants, who get the chance to relax in a luxurious villa. So, the game isn’t so much about winning money as it is about how much you keep and how much you’re willing to share. Elimination provides the opportunity to eliminate those others don’t want to share with—though contestants don’t have to vote for anyone. They can simply keep their share of the money and relax, which obviously doesn’t happen. Challenges along the way force contestants to reveal awkward and sometimes unpleasant truths about themselves, which could very well damage their relationships with others. Currently, there is only one season, though there is potential for more.Watch “Trust” on Netflix .
Outlast (2023–)
Combining the social aspects of Big Brother -esque “Betrayals” with the nature-loving nature of “Survival ,” this show sends four teams of four into the Alaskan wilderness (or, in season three, Panama). While the contestants are naturally loners, the game has one core rule: only a team of at least two can win. So, while the game features typical reality show eliminations, these wildlife enthusiasts must work together to take home the money. Just as “Traitors” creates tension between competition and cooperation through a shared prize pool, “Outlast” forces the contestants to maintain relationships, whether they want to or not.Watch “Outlast” on Netflix.
007: Road to a Million (2023–)
The missions on “Traitors” aren’t usually the most exciting part of the show, so this James Bond -style competition is a great choice if you’re looking for a more challenging and well-thought-out challenge. Nine teams of two visit exotic locations each episode and compete in spy missions with the ultimate goal of winning £1 million by reaching the end. There are no scenes of people sitting in castles strategizing, but like “Traitors,” there’s a dapper Scotsman unafraid to show off—in this case, Brian Cox—as the spy who leads the teams on their missions. Watch “007: The Road to a Million” on Prime Video.
Squid Game (2021–2025)
“The Squid Game: The Challenge” would probably be a more sensible choice for this list—given that it’s an actual reality show, not a chilling thriller. But I stand by my opinion of the original drama, as, as captivating as this spinoff is, it seems to miss the point. In the original (and surprise hit) drama, 454 needy contestants are recruited for a new reality show where they play rather simple, childish games—with deadly consequences that are welcomed by wealthy financiers willing to pay big bucks to watch the poor compete against each other, trying to survive and win a rather shockingly large prize. A bit like “Traitors,” if all of Alan’s murderous ploys were literally true.Watch “The Squid Game” on Netflix .