The show pits thirteen contestants against each other as they compete in various challenges, known as matches, which test their strategic thinking and social skills.

In the Main Match, all players compete to win a "token of life", which guarantees them safety from elimination that episode.

Each season also features "garnets", which function as the show's in-game currency, and can be used to purchase advantages during certain matches or given to other players to persuade them to make certain decisions.

[3] People also pointed out that the concept format of the series are similar to Japanese live-action version of Liar Game.

[2][4] Jung Jong-yeon, the producer of The Genius, claimed that all games in the series are designed by themselves, and they never bought any other media's copyrights.

But it was mentioned that only drama production company 'Apollo Pictures' hold the Liar Game's copyright,[8][9] not The Genius team.