There are many traditions that last in high school. Many know the basic ones like senior sunrise, senior skip day, senior sunset, after prom, post-grad, etc. One that started not too long ago, because it blew up on social media platforms, is Senior Assassin. It may sound scary, but it’s all about fun when you get to know the game.
Senior Assassin became popular over the past couple of years because of the well-known app called TikTok. The senior participants put money on the line, and whoever is the last man standing wins it all. The game uses an app called “Splashin,” where one can load their location so people can see them on the map. The app selects the person’s opponent, and the goal is to get the other person out. It’s a big game of tag with water guns, pool floaties, and goggles as their “safety zones.” Once the setup is done, the players have to get ready to eliminate their opponents. They go out and buy water guns, pool floaties, and goggles. The main rules for the game are not to do it at school, in someone’s workplace, or during activity practices. The players are not allowed to shut off their location, which raises the stakes. If one shuts their location off, they can be kicked out of the game or face a punishment. Another rule is that if one doesn’t get their target out by the end of the round, they can also be eliminated. Regarding the last rule, there is a “Buy-Back” rule. Students can pay three dollars to rejoin, but it’s a one-time thing. Other than that, it’s game on.
It may seem easy to avoid one’s target if all someone has to do is wear the protective gear, but there are “purges” throughout the game. The purge is known before it happens, but it is a free-for-all to get the players’ opponents out. It can be a short duration of time or a very long time. Solana Groothuis, senior, had her location off without knowing, and the group of seniors decided to make her have her own “purge” so her target could get her out without any restrictions or repercussions. The intensity of the game gets very high when one doesn’t know if their “killer” is waiting for them, even inside their house, waiting for them at the gym, or anywhere one goes. The senior assassin group has an Instagram account, where they post the rankings of who may win. Daegon Michaels, senior, had high expectations that he would win it all, being ranked at number four during week one. Michaels said, “Oh, I am definitely winning it all.” Later that week, Michaels went out during a purge and did in fact get eliminated.
While fun for some, others felt excluded, as this was not necessarily open to everyone in the senior class. However, due to this being an accessible app, other groups of seniors could have started their own groups as well. Some may also view this as a distraction or a risk to their privacy and want to avoid it altogether.
Regardless, the game is supposed to be fun, bringing the seniors together in a competitive childish way to bring back all the memories they experienced together as elementary school kids again one last time. It is a very memorable way to remember the last of senior year altogether. It leaves the players with long-lasting memories and nostalgia in the end, no matter who wins or loses the pot of money.
