A jigsaw puzzle is a set of loose pieces that fit together into a picture, a logo or a shape. On Survivor it is often the last step of a long obstacle course, built at the top of a tower or on a far platform. Several seasons open with a challenge that ends in one.
A tangram is a small set of flat shapes that fill a square or copy a picture. Play the tangram Spencer solved in Cambodia (season 31), or pick one from the puzzle list.
This list covers Survivor 41 onward, plus three tangram puzzles from earlier seasons. Other older seasons have not been checked yet.
Fit every piece into the frame so the picture matches the one beside the tray. On a tangram, fill the square any way that fits. Press a piece's letter to pick it up. Arrow keys move it over the frame, T turns it, and Enter sets it down. Escape puts it back, and Delete returns it to the tray. R reads the board row by row, and Shift R reads the picture. H gives a hint in practice. Space starts a new game.
The jigsaw puzzle has shown up 43 times across 14 seasons, from Thailand (season 5) in 2002 to Survivor 51 in 2026. Here is every one we could confirm.
Two tangram pictures, built by tribe members working in pairs.
Each tribe had to copy two pictures shown in front of them, using tangram pieces. Sook Jai solved both first.
Won by Sook Jai Source for season 5, episode 4 (opens in a new tab)
A pick of three puzzles, one of them a five-piece tangram.
Tribes freed a ladder from a crate and carried it over a tall platform. Each tribe then picked one of three puzzles to solve, a five-piece tangram, a ten-piece tree or a 50-piece jigsaw. No Collar and Blue Collar both took the tree, and White Collar took the jigsaw. No tribe chose the tangram. The first two tribes to finish won.
Won by Nagarote and Escameca Source for season 30, episode 1 (opens in a new tab)
Five-piece square tangram, unlocked after a course in the water.
Players crossed obstacles in the water, swam for a key and unlocked a chest of pieces. The square was the one no tribe chose in the first episode of Worlds Apart (season 30). Spencer had practiced it before his season and solved it within seconds. Our Spencer's square board uses the same five pieces, traced from the episode.
Won by Spencer Source for season 31, episode 13 (opens in a new tab)
Puzzle built from pieces carried up a tower in a crate.
Ua had a strong lead, then lost time hunting for a piece that was still in one of their bags. Luvu caught up and finished first.
Won by Luvu Source for season 41, episode 1 (opens in a new tab)
Turtle puzzle built from pieces locked away until a key was found.
One player dived for a key after a swim. Two players then used it to unlock the pieces. The first two tribes to finish won fishing gear and immunity.
Won by Luvu and Ua Source for season 41, episode 2 (opens in a new tab)
Pyramid built from four buoy pieces, two of them freed by diving.
Two players dived to release two of the pieces. Two more pieces waited on the platform. The first team to build the pyramid won grilled cheese sandwiches and chips.
Won by Blue Team Source for season 41, episode 8 (opens in a new tab)
Giant puzzle built from a bag of pieces hauled to the top of a tower.
Players made a rope ladder from rungs, then moved the bag of pieces up through a ladder puzzle. The giant puzzle came last. Erika won and shared the steak dinner with Heather.
Won by Erika, shared with Heather Source for season 41, episode 13 (opens in a new tab)
Giant dragon puzzle built from the pieces in three chests.
Tribes swam to a boat and gathered three chests. They dragged the boat under nets to the end of a track. Three players then built the dragon.
Won by Taku and Vati Source for season 42, episode 1 (opens in a new tab)
Circular jigsaw puzzle built blindfolded.
Blindfolded players fetched three bags of pieces while a caller guided them. The caller then talked them through the puzzle.
Won by Vati and Ika Source for season 42, episode 2 (opens in a new tab)
Hanging tuna puzzle built from pieces released by keys.
Swimmers towed a boat to a tower, and the riders leaped off to grab two keys. The keys unlocked the pieces. Vati finished just ahead of Ika.
Won by Taku and Vati Source for season 42, episode 4 (opens in a new tab)
75-piece jigsaw puzzle unlocked with keys at the top of a tower.
Two teams of five rolled a big ball through a course and used it to climb a tower. The first team to solve its puzzle won the merge feast.
Won by Orange Team Source for season 42, episode 6 (opens in a new tab)
Compass rose block puzzle built from pieces unlocked with a key.
Players spun to unwind a rope, crossed a set of obstacles for a key, and unlocked the pieces. Omar finished first and shared the meal with three others.
Won by Omar, shared with Maryanne, Mike and Romeo Source for season 42, episode 12 (opens in a new tab)
Vertical jigsaw puzzle of an ouroboros, built from pieces in bags.
Players raced through a giant course with branching limbs to collect the bags of pieces. They carried them to a central island to build. Mike won and shared the meal with Jonathan.
Won by Mike, shared with Jonathan Source for season 42, episode 13 (opens in a new tab)
Puzzle of the season logo, finished with a piece locked behind a number lock.
Tribes dragged a heavy snake ashore and took six number tiles from inside it. Solving the number lock freed a bag with the last piece.
Won by Baka and Coco Source for season 43, episode 2 (opens in a new tab)
Pieces built into a square, then taken apart and rebuilt as a triangle.
Tribes dragged four bags of pieces under a net. Two players built a square. The tribe then carried the pieces up a cargo net and rebuilt them as a triangle.
Won by Vesi and Baka Source for season 43, episode 4 (opens in a new tab)
Jigsaw puzzle whose finished picture spelled a phrase.
Teams built a stair from crates to reach a key, then raced up a warped wall to the locked pieces. The finished puzzle spelled EARNING YOUR SPOT AT EVERY STAGE.
Won by Blue Team Source for season 43, episode 6 (opens in a new tab)
Hanging bat puzzle built from pieces in a locked basket.
Castaways used number tiles to solve a combination lock, which released a key. The key opened the basket of pieces. Cassidy finished first.
Won by Cassidy Source for season 43, episode 12 (opens in a new tab)
Heavy puzzle blocks pieced together into a rectangle.
Each player crawled under an obstacle to fetch a block. Two players then fit the blocks together. Soka finished first and won a pot, a machete and flint.
Won by Soka Source for season 44, episode 1 (opens in a new tab)
Manta ray jigsaw puzzle at the end of a water course.
Players leaped from a ladder to grab a key, then crossed a balance beam. Two players then built the manta ray.
Won by Soka and Ratu Source for season 44, episode 4 (opens in a new tab)
Tree puzzle built from pieces unlocked with a key.
Two teams of six rolled a big ball through a course to a pole, where one player climbed it for a key. The key opened the pieces at the top of a warped wall.
Won by Purple Team Source for season 44, episode 6 (opens in a new tab)
Vertical jigsaw puzzle at the top of a ladder.
The final five raced through a three-story tower for keys. A monkey's paw released the ladder to their puzzles. Carson finished first and shared the meal with Yam Yam.
Won by Carson, shared with Yam Yam Source for season 44, episode 13 (opens in a new tab)
Vertical jigsaw puzzle of the season logo, unlocked with keys at the top of a tower.
Tribes crossed a mud pit, then shot coconuts into a basket until it was heavy enough to drop the keys. Two players at the top of the tower built the puzzle.
Won by Belo and Reba Source for season 45, episode 1 (opens in a new tab)
Vertical coral puzzle built from pieces unlocked with keys.
Three players smashed a disc on the way down from a tower to free a key. The other two players used the keys to unlock the pieces. The winners got a fishing kit.
Won by Reba and Belo Source for season 45, episode 2 (opens in a new tab)
Jigsaw pieces that formed a picture word puzzle, called a rebus.
Two players unlocked the pieces to show the picture clue. Two others then worked out the answer, which was SAFELY MOVING FORWARD TONIGHT.
Won by Blue Team Source for season 45, episode 6 (opens in a new tab)
Three-tiered puzzle built from bags of pieces at the top of a tower.
Castaways hit targets to reveal numbers for a combination lock. The lock released a key, and the key opened the bags of pieces. Austin won and shared the steak dinner with Jake.
Won by Austin, shared with Jake Source for season 45, episode 13 (opens in a new tab)
Heavy puzzle blocks pieced together into a podium.
Each player crawled under a net to fetch a block. Two players fit the blocks together. Another player then climbed the podium to free a ring from a pole.
Won by Nami Source for season 46, episode 1 (opens in a new tab)
Jigsaw puzzle at the end of a course built around a dummy gecko.
Tribes untied a huge dummy gecko and pulled it over a wall and through a rope tunnel to the finish platform. Two players then solved the jigsaw.
Won by Nami and Siga Source for season 46, episode 1 (opens in a new tab)
Jigsaw puzzle in three sections, solved by three pairs in turn.
Two players unlocked a chest and solved the first section. Two others then took over for the next, until all three sections were done.
Won by Purple Team Source for season 46, episode 6 (opens in a new tab)
Dolphin jigsaw puzzle at the end of a water course.
Castaways jumped from a tower, crossed a net and a balance beam, then built the dolphin. Maria finished first.
Won by Maria Source for season 46, episode 12 (opens in a new tab)
Jigsaw puzzle that gave clues for a combination lock.
The finished puzzle told players to count the geckos on it, its pieces, and the holes in a plank from the course. Those numbers opened the lock. Kenzie won and shared the pasta dinner with Ben.
Won by Kenzie, shared with Ben Source for season 46, episode 13 (opens in a new tab)
Jigsaw puzzle solved while a ball rolled down a plinko board.
Players rolled a ball up a ramp and into the board. They had to catch it at the bottom and send it back up, all while building the puzzle.
Won by Ben Source for season 46, episode 13 (opens in a new tab)
Seahorse jigsaw puzzle at the end of a water course.
Each tribe sent out one swimmer, then the rest in pairs. Two players then solved the seahorse.
Won by Gata and Tuku Source for season 47, episode 3 (opens in a new tab)
Fire jigsaw puzzle unlocked with keys.
Tribes built a goalpost from blocks and landed sandbags on a barrel. Two players then solved the fire puzzle. First place won three hens.
Won by Gata and Tuku Source for season 47, episode 4 (opens in a new tab)
Block puzzle knocked down with coconuts, then rebuilt.
Tribes cut loose coconuts and dragged them to the puzzle station. They used the coconuts to knock the puzzle down, then raced to put it back together.
Won by Tuku and Lavo Source for season 47, episode 5 (opens in a new tab)
Puzzle of the season logo, built from pieces carried in a sled.
A player smashed a mask with a club to find the key to the sled. Two players at the top used the pieces inside to build the logo.
Won by Lagi and Civa Source for season 48, episode 1 (opens in a new tab)
Temple puzzle built from pieces dug out of the ground.
Tribes threw sandbags through a goalpost they built. Three players then dug up the pieces and built the temple.
Won by Lagi and Civa Source for season 48, episode 4 (opens in a new tab)
Puzzle pieces from painted coconuts, put together into a map.
One player from each tribe that lost the opening challenge raced alone. Each found ten coconuts in their tribe color and opened them for pieces. The finished map showed where to dig for a ship wheel.
Won by Uli Source for season 49, episode 1 (opens in a new tab)
Logo puzzle built from pieces carried over a teeter totter.
Castaways freed a handle with disks, then used it to move the pieces over a teeter totter. They built the logo once they had every piece.
Won by Sophie Source for season 49, episode 10 (opens in a new tab)
Puzzle built from a bag of pieces hauled up to a tall platform.
Castaways used a grappling hook to drop a ladder, then rolled a barrel along a path to the platform. Savannah won and shared the steak dinner with Sage.
Won by Savannah, shared with Sage Source for season 49, episode 13 (opens in a new tab)
Logo puzzle assembled by the last two players of each tribe.
Tribes climbed cargo nets, crawled through a mud tunnel and released a ramp. Once everyone was up, the last two players built the logo.
Won by Kalo and Vatu Source for season 50, episode 1 (opens in a new tab)
Circular phoenix puzzle built from pieces unlocked with keys.
Castaways collected keys on an obstacle course and climbed to the finish. The keys opened the pieces for the phoenix.
Won by Jonathan Source for season 50, episode 13 (opens in a new tab)
Anchor puzzle built from pieces unlocked with a key.
Toka led, but two players could not find the first piece to place. Savu caught up, solved first and won chickens.
Won by Savu Source for season 51, episode 3 (opens in a new tab)
Large puzzle built from pieces knocked off a platform with sandbags.
Each tribe untangled itself from braided ropes, then used the ropes to pull in a sled of sandbags. One at a time, players threw sandbags to knock every puzzle piece off a platform. Then the whole tribe built the puzzle. Toka finished first and Dina second, so Savu went to Tribal Council.
Won by Toka and Dina Source for season 51, episode 6 (opens in a new tab)
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