The players are split between two or three "tribes", are taken to a remote isolated location and are forced to live off the land with meager supplies for 39 days (36 in the Celebrity Showdown seasons).

Frequent physical and mental challenges are used to pit the teams against each other for rewards, such as food or luxuries, or for "immunity", forcing the other tribe to attend "Tribal Council", where they must vote off one of their members.

Once down to three people (two in the 1st season), a final Tribal Council is held where the remaining players plead their case to the Jury as to why they should win the game.

It has further been re-arranged and added with tribal and ethnic flavors by local Filipino composer Diwa de Leon and chant vocals were performed by Evan Britanico.

In another deviation, the reunion specials were pre-recorded and were aired in the first Sunday after the final results were announced, which commonly happened in Fridays.