Becoming popular across the United States in the 2010s likely due to its portrayal on shows like iCarly, Gossip Girl, and social media,[2][3] the game is most commonly played between high school seniors in twelfth grade.

[1][4] Such videos are often posted on major social media platforms including Instagram, TikTok, and YouTube to promote the game and for entertaining content.

[1][9] Researching on social media and asking friends for information about a target is a key element to the game, and likewise giving disinformation to throw hunters off track.

[1] Other versions of the game allow for 'power-ups' which can protect the target from being eliminated while using them; a common example being wearing goggles or inflatable armbands, but may also include cowboy hats, tutus, and other embarrassing accessories.

[10][12][13] In relation to power-ups, these versions of the game also often use a 'bounty board' or 'hit list', which as opposed to being eliminated, a student is placed on in the event they could not assassinate their target within the given time frame.

"Though this may seem harmless on the surface, while in possession of an item resembling a firearm [...] the opportunity for mistaken identity and possible tragic outcomes is very real."

[8] In 2023 in Lower Merion Township, Pennsylvania, a school was evacuated after it was reported a student brought a firearm to a sporting event there, which turned out to be a water gun.

[7] Other controversies revolve around the game's name using the word "assassin", which has been condemned by some as sounding 'tone deaf' in wake on recent school shootings in the United States.