Senior Assassin: The Game That Marks Senior Year

By Relaida Collaku 

April 11, 2025 

In high schools across the country, spring doesn’t just mean prom, senior skip day, or graduation, it also means the start of one of the most chaotic and entertaining senior traditions: Senior Assassin.

What began years ago as a small unofficial game based off of shows among friends, has evolved into a large-scale event that some schools now plan for, regulate, or even ban. Senior Assassin turns seniors into secret agents, strategists, and in most cases, targets.

The rules are straightforward, though every school seems to add its own spin. At the start of the game each participating senior is given the name of another player. Their job? Track down their target and eliminate them using a water gun. Once a player successfully squirts their target they take over that person’s assignment and continue the hunt.

The game goes on until one person remains—crowned the final assassin.

Participants such as Sophia Quackenbush have argued that the game is, “fun but a little bit nervous.”

To keep things fun and fair, most versions of the game include safe zones, locations where students can’t be tagged. These usually include school grounds, religious centers, inside homes, and workplaces. Most students even wear floaties or goggles as “protection,” granting them temporary immunity based on agreed-upon rules.

But for all the laughter and water-soaked jeans, Senior Assassin has also seen its fair share of controversy.

While the game is meant to be harmless, not everyone finds it funny, especially when it spills out into public spaces. This year's game at Colonie Central High School has led to an increasing amount of police calls after seeing teenagers lurking near cars with what appear to be weapons.

In a recent incident, a concerned resident called the police after spotting someone outside their home firing at the building. They called the police and it turned out to be a player in the middle of a Senior Assassin mission, using an Orbeez gun. 

Orbeez guns are toy blasters that shoot small, gel-filled pellets. Though marketed as safe, these pellets can sting on impact, especially at close range or when used without protective gear. Law enforcement has warned that Orbeez guns can look like actual weapons from a distance.

Some schools have issued formal warnings or outright banned participation in Senior Assassin on school property. 

Emily Murray, our games' admin, talks about her experience dealing with these challenges and how she “tries to be as clear cut as possible and make sure that everyone knows what is going on.”

Parents, too, have mixed feelings. Some see it as a harmless rite of passage, while others worry about safety. Especially with the potential for accidents, trespassing, or interactions with law enforcement.

Even non-participants, such as Danica Silva, have witnessed the dangers and effects of senior assassin. She states how, “having water guns be brought into school is really dangerous because it's horrible to bring guns to school especially after how many school shootings have taken place.” 

Still, for many seniors, it’s a core memory in the making.

Quackenbush states her favorite part about the game is, “watching the eliminations.”

Challenges aside, Senior Assassin shows no signs of disappearing. Students continue to create Instagram pages or group chats to track eliminations, post videos of dramatic takedowns, and celebrate the most creative kills.

The game may be messy, controversial, and occasionally stressful, but for many seniors, that’s what makes it unforgettable.

Murray states that even under the stressful conditions, “the game should continue because it is a really fun thing.”

As the weather warms and water guns are loaded, one thing is certain: senior year ends not with a whimper, but with a splash.