Assassins Game Craze Among American Students | May 06 2024, 02:38

In the USA, the game “Assassins” is popular among school kids and university students. The winner (typically a student) gets a few hundred bucks.

The essence of the game lies in participants attempting to “eliminate” each other over several days or weeks, using water guns that often resemble real ones. Each player receives a target, another participant they must “kill,” aiming to do so secretly and discreetly. Teams are also formed that play against each other.

The game spans weeks, and participants must be on their guard, as they can be “killed” at any moment outside of school or campus, which are safe zones or “out of game.” The last surviving participant becomes the winner. And because lots of people chip in a little, the prize pool may reach several thousand dollars. Players often hide in places where the “victim” appears, chase them down—all of which is quite emotional and vivid. Those eliminated are posted on Instagram, often with photos from the “crime scene.”

The rules vary slightly from place to place. For instance, glasses (if worn) might count as protection, but on some days they don’t work either. You cannot “destroy” by breaking the law, not even slightly.

Well, many adults, of course, do not like it. Especially the schools, as it only brings them problems (and they end up sending out letters like the attached one).

Everyone acknowledges that it doesn’t formally break the law, but it does cause inconvenience, and technically, in some cases, it might incur a fine.