Returning Players

**Returning Players** (or **Veteran Contestants**) are former players who had previously participated in *The System* and are given another opportunity to win. Returnee seasons typically only occur once in every trilogy.

## Uses

### The System: Washington, D.C.

In the first iteration of the twist, 2 previously eliminated contestants, Alex V. from *Hyrule*, and Max D. from *Cyber*, were brought back to compete for a second chance after leaving pre-jury in their respective seasons. Upon their entry into *The System* they were made team captains, Alex of the Prism Party and Max of the Popularity Party based on aspects of the game that led to their demise in their first seasons. They later drafted their teams from the newbie players and from there on out were treated like normal contestants. For agreeing to return this season, Alex and Max were ineligible to return for the inevitable All-Star season.

### The System: All-Stars

During Season 5, the entirety of the cast would consist of returning players from the past four seasons of the show who had achieved All-Star status in their original season, marking them the best of the best who have played. Originally 9 contestants entered the game on Day 1 to compete in *The System: Snowed Inn*, in what they believed to be the All-Star season. On Day 2, 9 more contestants entered a separate game known as *The System: Castletown* to compete in a separate All-Star season, meaning there were 2 seasons with 9 contestants each, competing together with the same twists. The two games eventually merged into 1 following the first part of the third round, and the 12 remaining contestants competed in *The System: The Underground*.

### The System: The Sixth Night

The third iteration of this twist was scheduled for a later date, however a last minute drop left one spot left in the game, thus the twist was brought in earlier. Nathaniel decided to invite back a player who missed their chance at *All-Stars*, and he brought back Joshua F. from Cyber for another shot at the crown as the 13th and final contestant.

### The System: Legend Of The Burned Tower

During Season 8, the entirety of the 14 person cast was comprised of contestants who were deemed to need a second chance after having their original journey end before they could demonstrate their full capabilities. This season was ceremoniously dubbed *Second Chances* since the cast, who may not have qualified for an All-Star season originally, all returned for a second shot at the win.

### The System: Ultimate

During Season 10, the entirety of the cast made up of 14 returning players from the past nine seasons of the show who were considered legends in one of a variety of areas. This included past winners, finalists, competition beasts, record holders, legends and memorable personalities vying for either their first or second win. Throughout the season additional returning players also competed for a spot in the game and another chance to win, adding 4 additional returning players to the cast.

## Trivia

* The most contestants to return from a single season is held by *Washington, D.C.* with 9 contestants overall.
* The most amount of returnees for a single season at one time is 6, this happened in *The System: Ultimate* when 6 contestants from *All-Stars* returned.
* Only 11 contestants have played back-to-back seasons, this being Ahmae, Alex, Billy, Gaston, Grace, Jake, Kennedy, Lucas, Oakley, Rory and Steffen.
	+ The most contestants to play back-to-back seasons at a single season is 4, this was done by Ahmae, Gaston, Oakley and Steffen in *All-Stars* then Grace, Jake, Lucas and Rory in *Legend Of The Burned Tower*.
* Riley is the first Returning Player to go on to win a season.
* Every time the Returning Player twist was present in the season, at least one of the players came from *Cyber*.
* Out of the seasons that have returned, *Cyber* has the worst returning average with 11.25 and *Hope's Peak High* has the best returning average with 6.25.
* Miranda has the best result out of any returning player, finishing 1st in *Hyrule* and 2nd in *All-Stars*.
	+ This also makes Miranda the only player to never be eliminated across 2 seasons.
* Austin has the largest placement drop upon their returning season, each dropping 15 spots when they appeared in *Ultimate*, going from 2nd to 17th.
* Connor & Rory have the largest placement jump upon their returning season, jumping 9 spots from 10th to 1st and 11th to 2nd respectively in *Legend Of The Burned Tower*
* Lucas and Nick have the smallest placement jump upon his returning season, finishing in the same placement both times they appeared as a contestant.
* Austin, Bill, Billy, Connor, Dustin, Karissa, Kennedy, Lucas, Max, Miranda, Noah, & Rory are the only contestants to return and never be on the jury.
	+ Bill, Dustin, Lucas and Karissa went out prejury twice.
	+ Austin, Billy, Connor, Kennedy, Max and Rory made finals once and prejury once.
	+ Noah made finals once and prejury twice
	+ Miranda made finals twice.