Beast Games Returns: Strong vs Smart for $5 Million

MrBeast is back with another round of chaos, and this time he’s pitting muscle against mind in what promises to be his most divisive season yet.

Beast Games Season Two lands on Prime Video starting January 7, 2026, with the first three episodes dropping together before settling into a weekly release schedule through to the finale on February 25.

After the debut season became Prime Video’s most watched unscripted show ever, pulling in 50 million viewers within 25 days, Jimmy Donaldson clearly wasn’t interested in playing it safe. This time around, he’s assembled 200 contestants split into two distinct camps: 100 of the strongest competitors on the planet facing off against 100 of the sharpest minds. The prize? A cool $5 million.

The “Strong vs Smart” premise feels like classic MrBeast provocation, the kind of simple concept that sparks endless debate before anyone’s even watched a second of footage. Who wins when a chess grandmaster type goes head to head with someone who can deadlift a small car? That tension should make for compelling viewing, even if you’re not typically drawn to competition reality TV.

Beast City returns as the backdrop for all this mayhem, and early teaser footage suggests production values have only escalated. With a third season already greenlit following May’s Amazon upfront announcement, the show’s not going anywhere soon.

Why We’re Hooked

Look, I’ll be honest with you. Beast Games is an incredibly fun series to watch. It leaves you on the edge of your seat most of the time, and especially in those final episodes where everything comes down to the wire.

From heartwarming friendships that form in the most unlikely circumstances to the strategic alliances that keep you guessing, the show delivers drama that doesn’t feel manufactured. And then there are those moments of ultimate betrayal when someone turns on their closest ally for a shot at the jackpot.

Bring It to the UK Already

We can only hope that Beast Games makes its way to the UK at some point. Watching from across the pond is all well and good, but imagine British contestants in that Beast City environment. The dry humour, the understated competitiveness, the inevitable moment when someone puts the kettle on during a challenge. It would be television gold.