Robot Apocalypse: Journey to the End of Night - 2026

Robot Apocalypse: Journey to the End of the Night (RA:JEN) is a FREE robot-themed game of zombie tag, coming back to Chicago on Saturday, September 26th. This year, we will be in Bucktown!

Meeting up at the start of the night in Walsh Park at the east end of the 606, everyone will get a map with a list of secret checkpoints to visit along the way, along with two headbands:

One will be red.

One will be blue.

The blue one will go on your head.

The red one will go in your pocket.

If you get caught, you will hand over your blue headband as a prize to the chaser.

You will then put your red headband on. You are now a robot.

The object of the game is to get to checkpoints without getting tagged or to catch as many runners as you can. This is a footrace– as you go from place to place, only your own two feet and public transit are permitted. No bicycles, no skates, no cars, no taxis. And remember that it might not be enough to be fast… stealth and resourcefulness will help you survive this challenge!

Sign up is here, but a more complete list of details is available of our official site: https://storyluck.org/journey-to-the-end-of-the-night

Our volunteers and donors help keep this event going. Consider donating when you sign up. If you are interested in volunteering, you can sign up here: https://www.volunteermatch.org/search/opp3955895.jsp

Please remember to pack light-- whatever you can run with. Cargo shorts and fanny packs are your friends. There is no gear check!

Info: Come before 5:30 if you'd like to start off as a chaser!

Info: This is when the chase will officially start. Everyone will have up to 2 hours to complete the ~5 mile course, stopping at each of the 4 checkpoints along the way. These checkpoints will be revealed on the day of the event, when you receive your map at check-in.

Info: All surviving humans and robots must report to the finish by 8 PM. The finish is at a secret restaurant that will be revealed the day of the event, but it is less than a half mile from the start. Turn in your map with completed checkpoint stamps as well as your ribbons, and grab some food while we tally up the results. You can also sign up to tell one of your stories from the night to the group.

Info: Stick around to hear some of the most exciting stories from the night from your fellow participants. Who will tell better stories, the robots, or the humans? You'll get to decide, and the winner will get a chance to perform at the next StoryLuck show on October 4th!

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