Game shows have been making a major comeback on broadcast TV. In recent years, networks have revived fan favorites like Lingo with RuPaul, Match Game with Alec Baldwin, and Card Sharks with Joel McHale. Like vinyl records and bell bottoms, these timeless game shows are finding fresh audiences in a new era. Today, we are counting down ten classic game shows that were brought back, proving that sometimes the best new idea is just a polished old one.
The $100,000 Pyramid

First up on our list of classic game shows that were brought back is The $100,000 Pyramid. The show actually first premiered as The $10,000 Pyramid in 1973 with Dick Clark as host. It went through several prize increases before ending its original run in 1988.
The game’s format paired celebrities with regular civilian contestants in a race against time. Players took turns giving clues about words or phrases while their partners tried to guess them. Winners advanced to the Winner’s Circle for a chance at the grand prize by guessing six categories in 60 seconds.
Right off the bat, Dick Clark became synonymous with the show during its original run. However, brief revivals featured Donny Osborne in 2002 and Mike Richards in 2012. In 2016, ABC brought the show back as The $100,000 Pyramid with Michael Strahan as host. Now, it continues to attract viewers as it recently got renewed for an eighth season.
Card Sharks

Another game show revival was the iconic Card Sharks, which debuted in 1978 on NBC and ran several versions into the early 2000s. In 2019, ABC revived the show with comedian Joel McHale as host.
The game’s format revolves around players betting on whether the next playing card is higher or lower than the previous one. Contestants first earn their turn by winning survey questions. Then, they can then risk their winnings on each card flip, with prizes reaching $500,000 in the revival.
The original show was hosted by Jim Perry and later Bill Rafferty and Bob Eubanks. While the 2019 version with McHale kept the core gameplay intact, it added even bigger stakes. Though it only ran for two seasons, the revival showed how the simple thrill of gambling on card flips still creates exciting TV moments.
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Lingo

Next up on our list of classic game shows that were brought back is Lingo. This TV game show aired during three distinct periods. CBS first broadcast the show from 1987 to 1988. Later, it had a longer run on GSN from 2002 to 2007. Again, GSN brought it back briefly in 2011. In 2022, CBS announced that there would be yet another revival of Lingo, which premiered in early 2023.
The show’s format combined word-guessing with Bingo elements. Contestants had to deduce five-letter words. Correct guesses allowed them to draw numbered balls corresponding to spots on a Lingo card. Players aimed to complete a line on their card to win the game.
Different hosts led Lingo during each of its runs. First, Michael Reagan, son of President Ronald Reagan, hosted the original 1987 version. Then, Chuck Woolery became the face of the show during its popular 2002-2007 revival. In the 2011 version, comedian Bill Engvall took over as the host. Most recently, the newest revival of the show featured RuPaul as host and executive producer,
Despite its intermittent TV presence, the show had a dedicated fanbase. Viewers appreciated its unique blend of word skills and chance, earning it a place on our list.
Name That Tune

Another classic game show revival was Name That Tune. This musical game show has been on American screens since 1953, with multiple revivals keeping the show alive through 2021.
At its core, Name That Tune dared contestants to identify songs from just a few notes, creating a thrilling test of musical knowledge. The show’s “Bid-a-Note” round became legendary, with players claiming they could name a tune in as little as one note. Sometimes, my friends and I even play our own version of this game, shuffling songs by our favorite artists.
Despite its unique musical concept and star-studded host lineup – from George DeWitt to Jane Krakowski – Name That Tune is often forgotten. But, it stands out on our list for its timeless appeal and ability to turn musical trivia into must-see TV.
To Tell The Truth

To Tell the Truth, first airing in 1956, which ABC brought back in 2016 with Anthony Anderson as host, featured a panel of celebrities trying to identify one true expert among three contestants claiming to be the same person.
Anderson’s mother, Mama Doris, added a new element to the revival as the show’s unofficial lie detector. The celebrity panel must use their wit and intuition to question the contestants and determine who is telling the truth, while the imposters try their best to deceive them.
And, up until 2022, the show continued to air on ABC, showing how classic game show concepts can find new life with the right host and some modern twists and tweaks.
Supermarket Sweep

In 2020, more than a half-century after the 1965 edition of Supermarket Sweep left ABC, it was brought back as a new version hosted by Leslie Jones. The Emmy-nominated comedian brought her signature high-energy style to the beloved grocery store game show. Contestants raced through aisles, answering questions about product prices and solving food-related puzzles.
Unlike past versions of the show, which featured more modest prizes, the 2020 version majorly upped the ante with a Super Sweep jackpot reaching the six figures. What remained unchanged was the show’s central appeal. People love the thrill of watching contestants run through supermarket aisles, strategically filling their carts with high-priced items.
The revival balanced nostalgia for the original series, which had successful runs in the 1960s and again from 1990-2003 with host David Ruprecht (of course, with modern updates to both aesthetics and gameplay). Despite the strong initial buzz, the revival unfortunately stopped airing after a single season.
Hollywood Squares

Hollywood Squares was a celebrity-filled tic-tac-toe game that entertained American audiences from 1966 to 1980, with revivals running until 2004. In 2025, CBS brought back the beloved format with a fresh twist. And, this time, NFL analyst Nate Burleson is the host.
The show features nine celebrities seated in a giant tic-tac-toe board. Contestants chose a square and had to determine if the celebrity’s answer to a trivia question was true or false to claim that space. Notably, the new version features Drew Barrymore in the center square. This spot was previously held by stars like Paul Lynde and Whoopi Goldberg.
The revival has already attracted top talent like Tiffany Haddish and Drew Carey to its squares. While staying true to the original’s spirit, including its iconic theme song and basic set design, the new version adds modern touches and bigger prizes. This time, including a $25,000 bonus round. The show proves that even after nearly 60 years, the winning combination of celebrities, comedy, and competition still entertains audiences.
Press Your Luck

In the following spot on our list of classic game shows that were brought back is Press Your Luck, which returned to screens in 2019. Since then, Elizabeth Banks has guided contestants through a mix of trivia and chance as ABC’s host.
The show built on its 1983 CBS predecessor, where Peter Tomarken watched players face off against the dreaded “Whammies” that could erase their winnings.
The revival, called Whammy! The All-New Press Your Luck also added a high-stakes bonus round where winners can “press their luck” in a solo challenge against the board. Through multiple recent seasons, this blend of strategy and chance has won over modern audiences while maintaining the energy that made the original a hit.
Love Connection

Next on our list of classic game shows that were brought back is Love Connection. After a 23-year hiatus, Fox revived the dating show in 2017 with Andy Cohen taking over Chuck Woolery‘s role as matchmaker.
The format maintained its core appeal of pairing singles through video profiles but with a modern twist. Now, contestants went on dates with all three potential matches instead of just one. The revival also raised the stakes. This time, it offered a $10,000 prize if the audience’s preferred match aligned with the contestant’s choice.
In another update, the 2017 version broke new ground by also including the show’s first-ever LGBTQ+ couples. Despite these fresh elements and Cohen’s charm as host, the show still concluded after two seasons, though it left its mark as a contemporary take on a dating show classic.
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Match Game

Capping our list of classic game show revivals is Match Game. Between 2016 and 2021, ABC reinvented the 1962 classic with Alec Baldwin as the host. The show kept contestants trying to match answers with celebrity panelists but updated its humor for modern audiences.
While the original series relied on clever innuendo and wordplay, Baldwin’s version embraced more direct adult humor. The revival’s celebrity panel also featured both established stars and rising comedians in the fill-in-the-blank challenges.
Over the revival’s five-season run, the show proved that watching celebrities and contestants try to share the same wavelength still entertains audiences, even in an era of complex reality competitions.
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