‘Senior assassin’ water-gun game a controversial last shot at adolescence for high school grads

Water guns and inflatable water wings have been must-haves for some teenagers playing an end-of-high school game that has irked law enforcement officials.

The game, called “senior assassin,” doesn’t take place in a pool or behind a screen. Instead, Grade 12 students form teams to eliminate other players, by shooting them with water, until only one team is left standing. 

“This event really brought down a lot of stress that seniors would hold,” said Pratyush Singh, a student at Central Secondary School in London, Ont., who played the game with his peers last month.

“This gave us a distraction and made us think of something other than exams for a couple weeks.”

The game has gained a following in Ontario and beyond, after an app was developed to keep score and track the location of players. Students have also been posting videos on TikTok.

Police have also been keeping track of senior assassin game play, warning students about safety after receiving calls to 911. 

“Oxford OPP want to remind participants that the members of the public who are unfamiliar with the game may confuse a water gun with a real firearm and call the police,” wrote OPP Sgt. Davide Barnabi.

“Police certainly want students to enjoy their final year of high school safely. Our officers would like to encourage students to find a safer way to celebrate the success of their graduation.”  

One of the rules of senior assassin is it cannot be played on school grounds as water guns aren’t allowed on school property, so it’s largely played in the community.

“I totally understand where this is coming from because a lot of the water guns did look quite realistic to the distant eye,” said Singh. “[But] this is a very fun game when you are being mature about it. If you understand that, this can be one of the best games that you play and it can be a core memory in your high school life.”

Game includes ‘safe zones’

The game is played in teams of up to six people with the goal of eliminating three “targets” in each round. One team member must still be “alive” to move on in the game.

The “kills,” or the elimination of players, are recorded and uploaded to the Splashin app or the eliminated player has to confess to being shot.

When I was taking it maybe a little too seriously, I may have worn floaties on a date– Callum Contursi, Grade 12 student

But kills in senior assassin are not just a free-for-all. At Central, students have a detailed document of rules that outline “safe zones” where nobody can be eliminated, including at people’s workplaces, places of worship and at home. The exception to home is if a family member gives permission for a player to come into the house to shoot their target.

Water wings, called floaties, are a big part of this game. Players gain immunity by wearing them.

“The first week, when I was taking it maybe a little too seriously, I may have worn floaties on a date,” said Grade 12 student Callum Contursi. “Sometimes you have to go to extreme lengths to be safe.”

‘Our final hurrah of doing stupid stuff’

The students all said the game has helped them build stronger relationships with their peers. They have seen their friends in a new light and had the chance to meet new people who were their assigned targets.

They hope senior assassin becomes a year-end tradition for more high schools.

“[Seniors] are moving on next year,” said Grade 12 student Daniel Manguply. “This is our final hurrah of doing stupid stuff.”

But the teens admit the game could be concerning for people who don’t know the rules, including those who have mistaken the water guns for real ones. Manguply suggests adding a rule to ensure all the guns clearly look like toys. 

School board officials aren’t enthusiastic about senior assassin taking hold as a year-end tradition. 

“There have been complaints about bullying and the targeting of students who choose not to participate, which has required consideration of school-level discipline,” said Dennis Wright, superintendent of Safe Schools with the Thames Valley District School Board. He said keeping the game off school property is important. 

Winning the game

Students win senior assassin by being the last team standing, which was the fate of Singh’s and Manguply’s team in a recent game.

“When we came into this game … we weren’t in the mentality that we were going to win this game,” said Singh. “We were in here for fun; like we make our team, play with water guns, wear our little floaties and look silly around people.”