Mental Samurai


Mental Samurai is an American television game show of intelligence and mental agility that premiered on March 19, 2019 on Fox. Described as an "obstacle course for the mind", the show features contestants answering knowledge-based questions while being moved around by a large robot arm in the show's specially designed capsule that can rotate 360°. The show is hosted and produced by Rob Lowe.
On February 25, 2020, it was announced that the second season was set to premiere on April 22, 2020. However, due to the ongoing coronavirus outbreak, the new season was postponed and reruns are airing in its place.

Gameplay

The game consists of two rounds, with one contestant at a time answering questions from within a movable capsule, named Ava. The questions are asked on four screens, each focusing on a different skill: Knowledge, Puzzles, Sequences, and Memory.

The Tower of Knowledge

This round consists of up to four questions, one at each tower, in the same manner; 90 seconds are allowed, plus any time remaining from the first round. The first correct answer increases the contestant's winnings to $25,000, and each subsequent answer adds a further $25,000, for a maximum of $100,000 if the contestant answers all four questions correctly. A miss at any time ends the round, but the contestant leaves with whatever money they have won to that point.
Correct
questions		Prize
0$10,000
1$25,000
2$50,000
3$75,000
4$100,000

Tournament format

The best-performing contestants in a season, including some who fail to win the $100,000 on their original episode, returned in the final episode of the season to compete in a tournament for a grand prize of $250,000.

Towers of Samurai

In the tournament final, much like the preliminary episodes, the finalists will complete a Towers of Samurai round. However, unlike previous shows, the finalists will each face the same 12 questions in the same order. The top three finishing players will advance the Circle of Samurai final.

Circle of Samurai Final

Again, unlike previous episodes, each of the contestants will face off answering the same set of questions. Each contestant is sequestered backstage and unaware of the proceedings. Unlike the regular episodes, each contestant is only given 90 seconds to complete the four questions. The contestant who answers the most questions correctly, in the shortest amount of time, will be deemed the winner and champion.

Ratings

International versions

Legend:
Currently airing
Ended
Upcoming version
CountryLocal titleHostNetworkDate aired
Mental SamuraiUnknownDubai TV2020 – present
Mental Samurai SuomiEllen JokikunnasNelonenFebruary 22, 2020 – present
:pt:Mental Samurai|Mental SamuraiPedro TeixeiraTVIOctober 29, 2019 – present