In the unassuming booths at the back of the cafeteria, a brotherhood of gaming warriors convenes to brawl for glory and honor. Every lunch period, the group gathers around a small Samsung monitor to battle it out. While many BHS students spend their lunch period chatting and eating with friends or studying, these activities are an afterthought for the boys. They spend the 50-minute period engrossed in the virtual reality of Super Smash Bros. Ultimate, the fifth installment in the Super Smash Bros. series, which features iconic characters such as Mario, Pikachu, Pac-Man and Kirby. The game is the best-selling fighting game in U.S. history and is obviously very popular here at Boulder High. 

The group’s leader, Evander Deorsay (10th grade), started the tradition his freshman year. “I bought this monitor at a thrift store for seven dollars, and it fits in my locker, surprisingly enough,” he said. Since then, their clan has only grown. The gamers are slowly taking over the lower level of the cafeteria, adding multiple devices to accommodate everyone. 

This group is not comprised of rinky-dink wanna-be gamers. When asked who was the best in the group, their answer was unanimous. The boys seem to idolize the gaming prowess of their friend Ben Dormody (10th grade). He’s the real deal, having travelled to California recently for a video game competition. 

So if eating and small talk are becoming mundane lunch activities, you might like to experience the exciting world of the lower-level cafeteria, where you can become a super gamer who smashes opponents with fellow gaming bros — the ultimate lunch passtime.