At first glance, Splashin’ looks like any other app. It has a clean interface and a simple and easy-to-use layout. But for seniors at Yorba Linda High School, it quickly has become something else entirely: the control center for one of the most chaotic, competitive, and intense senior traditions of the year.

For those unfamiliar, Senior Assassin is a game played by high school seniors, typically in the final months before graduation. Each player is assigned a target and must “eliminate” them (with silly string) while avoiding being eliminated by their own assigned “assassin.” The game continues in rounds until only one or two players remain.

Despite its intensity, the game operates under a strict set of rules to keep things safe and fair. At YLHS, players cannot make eliminations on school property, ensuring that the game doesn’t interfere with the school day. There are also designated “safe items” (this year, floaties) that players must wear to make themselves temporarily immune from being eliminated. On designated “purge days,” these protections disappear. Floaties no longer guarantee safety, and players can be eliminated regardless. 

In past years, the “Senior Assassin” game relied on Google Sheets and Instagram DM updates, leaving room for confusion and controversy. Splashin’ changed that. Splashin’ was created by developers looking to standardize and simplify the increasingly popular Senior Assassin game played at high schools across the country. As the tradition grew, apps like Splashin’ emerged to bring consistency and clarity to what had previously been a loosely run, student-managed game.

Splashin’ assigns each player a target and tracks eliminations as they happen. Once a student logs in, they can see their assigned target, upload proof of an elimination (through video), and follow the progression of the game through an automatically updating bracket. 

“It honestly made everything feel more intense,” shares Sophia Jones (12), one of this year’s winners. “You always knew exactly who your target was, and the second something changed, the app would tell you. There was no downtime, you were always thinking about it.”

One of the app’s most defining features is its verification system. Players are required to submit photo or video evidence of each elimination, which is then reviewed before being officially confirmed. While this keeps the game fair, it also adds a layer of scrutiny that didn’t exist before.

Beyond that, the live leaderboard and bracket system creates a public narrative for players. Seniors can watch the competition narrow down in real time, seeing not just their own progress, but everyone else’s as well. “It felt like you were always ‘on,’” explains Agnes Lee (12), who was eliminated earlier in the competition. “Even when you weren’t actively playing, you’d check the app and see updates, and it pulled you right back in. It was fun, but definitely a lot to think about.”

Still, there’s no denying what Splashin’ accomplishes. It simplified logistics for the game operators and brought a level of organization that previous years lacked. Good luck seniors, may the best player win!