This Kingdom Hearts drinking game will put you under your Gummi Ship

Nods to Disney movie plots, “dark” references and even belt buckles… The Kingdom Hearts franchise is rife with all manner of recurring tropes that would make for a good drinking game for adult fans of the series. So, crack open your alcoholic beverage of choice and boot up your favorite Kingdom Hearts entry- here are five Kingdom Hearts tropes that make for a fun drinking game. But be warned, combining all five tropes is enough to put the strongest drinker under their Gummi Ship!  

1. Drink whenever Disney or Final Fantasy protagonists require the player’s help 

Despite being the stars of their own franchises, Disney and Final Fantasy characters tend to find themselves in trouble in Kingdom Hearts titles. Whether it be Cloud Strife on the verge of losing to Cerberus in Olympus or Hiro and Baymax fighting off the Heartless in San Fransokyo, there is always something that the players can do to help. It’s not just Sora, Donald, and Goofy who have their hands full with others’ problems either, as the player gets plenty of chances to do good deeds when playing as characters like Riku, Aqua, Roxas, and Kairi too. If you drink each time you come to the aid of a Disney or Final Fantasy character- be prepared to feel it tomorrow. 

2. Drink whenever a Disney world references its source material’s plot 

The majority of Kingdom Hearts takes place in Disney worlds, with the settings inevitably paying homage to the movies they are based on. For example, Halloween Town has Jack Skellington thinking up new ways to celebrate the spooky holiday in Kingdom Hearts. Meanwhile, The Pirates of the Caribbean-inspired Port Royal has Captain Jack Sparrow fighting against his mutineering first mate Hector Barbossa in Kingdom Hearts 2. Although these worlds feature original stories that blend into the Kingdom Hearts narrative (Jack Skellington is experimenting on the Heartless for next Halloween’s festivities, while Barbossa is found to be working with Pete and the Heartless), they contain enough nods to the source material to delight fans of the movies- and to make you rather tipsy. 

3. Drink when there are more special effects onscreen than characters 

Kingdom Hearts’ battles erupt with more flashes of light than your average fireworks show. Clashing weapons, cast spells, summoned allies, or any other number of offensive, defensive, or support techniques are all accompanied by colorful animations. It can be quite easy to lose track of where everything is during combat, but that shouldn’t deter players from taking a swig of their favorite alcoholic beverage while mashing the attack button (it might even help with defeating hordes of enemies). 

4. Drink whenever a character has an excess of belt buckles, chains, pouches, or zippers 

Although most Disney characters retain their iconic looks in Kingdom Hearts, some have been redesigned or have special costumes that fit the franchise’s aesthetic. This is thanks to series creator Tetsuya Nomura – whose tenure at Square Enix as a video game artist and designer helped him foster his distinctive art style. Nomura is known for outfitting his characters with all sorts of accessories, from numerous belts to chunky zippers, to the point where it looks like they might be over-encumbered.  

Nomura’s art style is present throughout Kingdom Hearts – from original characters like Sora, Riku, and Kairi to redesigns of iconic Final Fantasy and Disney characters. Where else can Mickey Mouse be seen wearing a drooping black cloak perfectly molded to his iconic round ears, complete with blingy silver chains? Feel free to take a sip whenever Nomura’s trademark belts, zippers or chains make an appearance on a Disney or Final Fantasy favorite- if you dare. 

5. Drink whenever darkness or light come into the conversation 

Kingdom Hearts’ complex narrative may only be matched by the Metal Gear franchise, but it tends to reuse a lot of words, which makes it perfect for drinking. Words like “heart,” “Heartless,” “light,” “dark,” and “darkness” are frequently uttered by the cast and are integral to the story. In fact, they come up so often that playing the Kingdom Hearts drinking game while watching an important cutscene may be enough for the average person to get drunk. 

Each of the five tropes above are more than enough to get your Kingdom Hearts drinking game started. Feel free to mix and match them as you like, and don’t be afraid to switch out that vodka for water. Kingdom Hearts has many other tropes that would also make for a good drinking game- let us know your favorite combos in the comments below!