The Genius brings together 13 contestants to compete for the top spot in rounds involving various strategic and mental games. Every round, a contestant is eliminated following a main match and a death match. The Main Match is a game that all the players will have to play in order to win, and the Death Match is only played by the elimination candidates. The winner(s) of the main match will gain a token of life as a form of immunity from elimination. In the event there is a sole winner, then that player receives an additional token of life to give to another player. The worst performer in the main match is automatically sent to the death match, and is allowed to choose their opponent. However, they cannot choose a person with a token of life.

Because the show requires sharp thinking to win, every game is expected to be riddled with thrill and shock and is filled with loopholes for the players to exploit. Each contestant must figure out both the rules of the game and its secrets, and how they can win as quickly as possible. Players may join forces with others, betray them or simply eliminate their competitors, to either create a "beautiful defeat" or an "ugly victory".

Contestants are encouraged to use every means to survive. The contestant who successfully makes it to the end and outsmarts 12 other contestants will be called The Genius.