While Nickelodeon has been renowned by kids and teens for its colorful cartoons and amusing live-action shows, one underappreciated aspect of the network has been its gameshows - particularly when it comes to those of the 90s. Many of these contests provided a fun, creative twist on the more typical formula prominent in some of the stuffier adult-themed contests. Gameshows were now fun for kids to watch, too.
Between the network’s staple of “sliming” contestants, kid-friendly trivia, in addition to the insane physical challenges and obstacles featured on many shows, there was no shortage of amusing events for kids to enjoy.
Let’s take a look at the 10 most memorable and creative gameshows to be featured on Nickelodeon.
Think Fast
If you’ve ever wondered what a game show might be like when mixed with Simon Says and wacky physical challenges, this short-lived contest from 1989 would be it. Think Fast is a game that pitted 2 teams of 2 against one another in a battle of memories. The goal was to repeat a series of random and often goofy events - in that trademark zany Nickelodeon style. Each team would then add their own activity, piling onto the sequence and making it trickier for the other squad.
This included an ice cream sundae assembly and games like “Burp the Uncle” in which contestants had to push on the backs of 3 large “uncles” which would prompt them to belch. Only on Nick, Right?
Get The Picture
In a sort of simplified, more visual kid’s version of Classic Concentration, this show revolves around contestants memorizing and picking out various sequences of pictures displayed on a segmented video board. There would also be trivia questions interwoven with a glorified version of “Connect the Dots,” which would allow teams to utilize correct answers as a means to assemble the dotted picture and identify it.
Other games on this show included word searches, drawing portions, and music videos which had to be identified. It’s a shame Get the Picture only lasted a single year, as it really had an impressive array of creative visually-oriented games, which were fun to play along with at home.
What Would You Do?
Not to be confused with the more adult-themed 2008 show of the same name (but similarly dealing with silly hidden camera scenarios) this Nick show aired for just two years.
If you watched Nickelodeon back in the 90s, you may know Marc Summers for his role in hosting the iconic Nick game show, Double Dare. But a fair degree less known, even for children growing up in this era, was this similarly messy game show featuring wacky challenges, also hosted by Summers.
But while Double Dare leaned on trivia read to contestants, this show utilized audience participation, as various spectators would be called upon to ask what they’d do or pick in various weird situations. The outcomes would often lead to them or family members performing stunts that ranged from dancing to painting to creating sound effects.
Figure It Out
In a departure from our previous entry, Figure It Out managed to be entertaining, not because of its use of random audience members, but because of established Nick stars, most of whom had no shortage of zingers when playing this lighthearted game show. This included everyone from Amanda Bynes and SNL’s Kenan Thompson to CatDog. Even host Summer Sanders got to have some fun as a panelist.
The goal was for the featured panelists to guess the hidden talent of a child contestant, which they could do by asking basic yes or no questions and examine a few hints. There was also the ever-amusing “Secret Slime Action,” which would trigger a panelist (or several) being doused in the trademark Nick slime. Between these slimings, panelist quips, and the often amusing talents of the contestants, there was much for kids to find entertaining about Figure It Out.
Wild & Crazy Kids
Yet another short-lived, lesser-known gem of the early 90’s was Wild & Crazy Kids, a show that, as the title would imply, provided a series of action-packed challenges. This included large scale pie fights, long jumps into shaving cream, and even roller coaster rides at major theme parks where contestants had to keep a cup of water intact while riding.
Watching the contestants have a blast at these fun beach and amusement park locations made us want to join in on the excitement when watching. But alas, since we were only children with limited travel options, this zany outdoor game show would have to do…
BrainSurge
While there haven’t been quite as many examples of real standout, memorable game shows in the modern era of Nick, BrainSurge certainly made for a fun watch when it aired from 2009-2014.
Taking a somewhat similar approach to Get the Picture, the game melds visually-oriented brainbusters with comprehension and memory retention. Contestants would be shown random video clips, featuring visual puzzles that would have to be solved or retained by buzzing in with a corresponding answer. BrainSurge contained an array of colorful and creative puzzle-based minigames which kids could easily play along to at home.
Double Dare
Double Dare is sort of the Ren & Stimpy equivalent of Nick game shows. Similar to how that animation helped put the network on the map, this enduring game show is what many viewers tend to think of when they think “Nickelodeon.” And it’s also similarly messy… But unlike that Nicktoon, Double Dare actually has a revival series that’s still on the air to this day!
This show has consisted of a number of variants in its long, successful run, which speaks to the timeless appeal of this kid-based game show. It revolves around a series of trivia questions, which, if turned down by a team, would shift to their opponents with a “dare.” The team stuck with a question they didn’t know would engage in “physical challenges” that featured plenty of things kids like - mainly entertaining sport-like stunts and plenty of messy “stuff” to play with.
Nick Arcade
If there’s any Nick game show that could really use a revival, though, it’s this super underrated gem, Nick Arcade. Gamers in particular got a kick out of this one, as it featured a videoboard, competitions, and even physical challenges based around retro-style video games. It was fun enough to watch kids take on challenges in custom-made arcade romps like “Meteoroids” and “Jet Jocks.”
Yet, the real draw was watching contestants actively participating in interactive games which they’d have to play through by performing actions while physically being in the game. It may have been a glorified greenscreen effect, but it was still neat to behold, especially in the early 90s when gaming tech was relatively primitive.
Nickelodeon GUTS/Global GUTS
Talk about epic! For impressionable, easy-to-please kids growing up in the 90s, this extreme sports-based competition felt like a combination of watching American Gladiators and the Olympics for children. Kids and teens would partake in a series of athletic events, ranging from wave pool races to basketball tossing romps.
The show featured some truly awesome and elaborate set pieces - especially when it came to the climactic end-challenge, which showcased a misty colorful mountain of obstacles called the Crag. This show was the real deal - swapping the goofy, messy stunts with real athletic challenges and tough obstacles to traverse. Growing up, everybody wanted to earn that coveted Crag Trophy that awaited upon climbing the mountain.
Legends Of The Hidden Temple
When it comes to neat set pieces, GUTS is certainly a contender, but it’s tough to match this iconic game show in terms of its detail, creativity, and excitement. Legends of the Hidden Temple had just about everything - a plethora of competitive contestants, thrilling athletic challenges, and that epic final scramble through the temple. Even the trivia questions and exposition, which was typically based on ancient history and mythology, proved entertaining to listen to.
This imaginative show left quite the impression on 90’s kids, most of whom desired to rock the Silver Snakes or Red Jaguars attire and be on the show - even if it meant being spooked by one of those creepy Temple Guards in the end challenge.
Next: 10 Best Nickelodeon Shows Of All time, According To IMDb
