Level Up Your Party: The Ultimate Mario Kart Drinking Game Guide
Mario Kart: a timeless classic that has fueled friendships, rivalries, and countless hours of entertainment. But what if you could take this already exhilarating experience to the next level? Enter the Mario Kart drinking game – a surefire way to inject even more laughter, chaos, and friendly competition into your next gathering. This comprehensive guide will provide you with everything you need to host an unforgettable Mario Kart drinking game night, from the basic rules to advanced variations and essential tips for responsible gameplay. So, buckle up, grab your controllers, and prepare to race into a night of fun!
## Why Play a Mario Kart Drinking Game?
Before we dive into the specifics, let’s explore why the Mario Kart drinking game is such a popular choice for parties and get-togethers:
* **Enhanced Excitement:** The addition of drinking rules intensifies the thrill of each race. Every power-up, every near miss, and every victory becomes even more significant.
* **Increased Social Interaction:** The game naturally encourages interaction and banter between players. Shared moments of misfortune (getting hit by a blue shell) and triumph (sniping someone with a green shell) foster camaraderie and create lasting memories.
* **Hilarious Chaos:** Mario Kart is already known for its unpredictable nature, but the drinking game amplifies the chaos. Expect unexpected twists, accidental self-sabotage, and plenty of laughter.
* **Easy to Learn, Difficult to Master:** The rules are simple enough for anyone to pick up quickly, but mastering the game (both the racing and the drinking) requires skill and strategy.
* **Customizable:** The rules can be easily adjusted to suit the preferences and drinking tolerance of your group. This allows you to tailor the game to create the perfect party atmosphere.
## Essential Ingredients for Your Mario Kart Drinking Game
Before you can start racing and drinking, you’ll need to gather a few essential items:
* **Mario Kart Game:** Obviously, you’ll need a copy of Mario Kart. Any version will work, but Mario Kart 8 Deluxe on the Nintendo Switch is the most popular and feature-rich option.
* **Nintendo Switch (or other compatible console):** Make sure you have the console that the game runs on.
* **Controllers:** You’ll need enough controllers for all the players. Joy-Cons work, but Pro Controllers are often preferred for their improved ergonomics and responsiveness.
* **Television or Projector:** A large screen will enhance the viewing experience and make it easier for everyone to follow the action.
* **Drinks of Choice:** Beer is a classic choice, but you can use wine, mixed drinks, or even non-alcoholic beverages if you prefer. Be sure to provide a variety of options to cater to everyone’s tastes.
* **Shot Glasses or Cups:** Choose appropriate drinking vessels. Shot glasses are commonly used, but smaller cups might be better for pacing.
* **Snacks:** Keep your players fueled with plenty of snacks. Pizza, chips, and other party favorites are always a hit.
* **Designated Driver (or Safe Transportation):** This is crucial. Ensure that everyone has a safe way to get home after the party. Designate a driver who will remain sober, or arrange for taxis, ride-sharing services, or public transportation.
* **Rule Sheet (Optional):** Having a printed rule sheet on hand can help avoid confusion and ensure that everyone is on the same page.
## The Basic Mario Kart Drinking Game Rules
Here’s a standard set of rules to get you started. Feel free to modify them to suit your group’s preferences.
1. **Finishing Last:** The player who finishes in last place in each race has to take a designated amount of drinks (e.g., one shot, a few sips, etc.). This is the most common and fundamental rule.
2. **Getting Hit by a Shell (Red or Green):** Whenever a player gets hit by a red or green shell, they have to take a drink. This rule adds an extra layer of frustration (and amusement) to being targeted by opponents.
3. **Getting Hit by a Blue Shell:** Getting hit by the dreaded blue shell is a particularly painful experience, so it warrants a harsher penalty. The affected player has to take two drinks (or a larger shot).
4. **Falling Off the Track:** If a player falls off the track (e.g., into a pit, off a cliff), they have to take a drink. This rule encourages careful driving and punishes reckless maneuvers.
5. **Getting Hit by Lightning:** When lightning strikes and shrinks all the racers, everyone except the player who used the lightning item has to take a drink. This adds a strategic element to using the lightning power-up.
6. **Using a Star:** When a player uses a star, everyone else has to take a drink. This rule encourages the use of stars, as it benefits the player using it while also impacting other players.
7. **Being Passed at the Finish Line:** If a player is passed at the finish line in the final few seconds, they have to take a drink. This rule adds extra tension to the end of each race.
8. **Coinless Run:** If a player finishes the race with zero coins, they must take a drink. This encourages players to collect coins and not rely solely on power-ups.
## Advanced Mario Kart Drinking Game Rules and Variations
Once you’ve mastered the basic rules, you can spice things up with these advanced variations:
* **Character-Specific Rules:** Assign specific rules to certain characters. For example, if someone is playing as Toad, everyone else has to take a drink every time he gets hit by an item. This can add a fun and thematic twist to the game.
* **Item-Specific Rules:** Create rules based on specific items. For example, if someone gets hit by a banana peel, the person who laid the banana peel gets to nominate someone to take a drink. This encourages strategic item usage.
* **Course-Specific Rules:** Tailor the rules to specific courses. For example, on Rainbow Road, everyone has to take a drink every time someone falls off the track. This adds an extra challenge to already difficult courses.
* **The “Winner’s Choice” Rule:** The winner of each race gets to choose a rule for the next race. This keeps things fresh and unpredictable.
* **The “Loser’s Choice” Rule:** The player who finishes last gets to choose a rule for the next race. This gives the loser a chance to get revenge.
* **The “Reverse Rule” Rule:** After each race, the group votes on a rule to reverse. For example, instead of the person who finishes last taking a drink, the person who finishes first has to take a drink. This can lead to some hilarious consequences.
* **The “Waterfall” Rule:** At the start of each race, everyone starts drinking at the same time. The person in first place can stop drinking whenever they want, and then each subsequent player can stop drinking when the person ahead of them stops. The person in last place has to finish their drink last.
* **Team-Based Drinking:** If you’re playing in teams, the drinking rules apply to the entire team. This can create a sense of shared responsibility and teamwork.
* **Mario Kart Tournament Bracket:** For larger groups, consider setting up a Mario Kart tournament bracket with drinking rules applied to each match. This adds a competitive element and keeps everyone engaged.
* **Drinking per point obtained:** At the end of the match the total of points the player obtained is how many sips he has to take from the drink. A player with 20 points will have to take 20 sips.
## Setting Up Your Mario Kart Drinking Game
Follow these steps to ensure a smooth and enjoyable experience:
1. **Gather Your Supplies:** Make sure you have all the essential ingredients listed above.
2. **Set Up the Game:** Connect your console to the television and launch Mario Kart.
3. **Choose Your Game Mode:** Select the game mode you want to play. Grand Prix is a popular choice, as it allows you to play through a series of races.
4. **Choose Your Characters and Karts:** Let each player choose their preferred character and kart combination. This can be part of the fun, as players experiment with different options.
5. **Select Your Courses:** You can either choose to play on random courses or select specific courses that you enjoy. Course-specific rules can add an extra layer of challenge and excitement.
6. **Establish the Rules:** Clearly communicate the rules to all players before you start racing. Make sure everyone understands the penalties for various actions.
7. **Designate a Drink Monitor:** Appoint someone to keep track of the drinks and ensure that everyone is following the rules. This can help prevent disputes and maintain fairness.
8. **Start Racing!** Once everything is set up, it’s time to start racing and drinking!
## Tips for Responsible Gameplay
It’s important to remember that the Mario Kart drinking game is meant to be a fun and social activity. Here are some tips for responsible gameplay:
* **Drink Responsibly:** Pace yourself and don’t feel pressured to drink more than you’re comfortable with. Know your limits and stick to them.
* **Stay Hydrated:** Drink plenty of water throughout the night to stay hydrated and prevent hangovers.
* **Eat Food:** Eating food will help slow down the absorption of alcohol and keep you from getting too drunk too quickly.
* **Take Breaks:** Take breaks from racing and drinking to socialize, stretch, and give your body a chance to recover.
* **Don’t Drive Under the Influence:** This is the most important rule. Never drive under the influence of alcohol. Designate a driver, use a ride-sharing service, or take public transportation.
* **Know Your Limits:** Everyone has different tolerances. Do not try to keep up with others, as this can lead to over-intoxication.
* **Be Respectful of Others:** Not everyone will want to drink the same amount. Respect their choices and do not pressure them to drink more than they want.
* **Have Fun!** The most important thing is to have fun and enjoy the company of your friends.
## Variations on the Drinks to Take
While the rules above suggest shots and sips, here are some other fun variations on the types and amounts of drinks you can assign to different penalties:
* **The Power-Up:** For particularly harsh penalties, the person can assign the drink to any other player. For example, the Blue Shell penalty could give the hit player the ability to force someone else to take their drink.
* **The Stack:** If players don’t want to take the full drink right away, they can “stack” penalties, taking multiple drinks at once. This creates potential for dramatic moments. If a player who has to take 3 sips keeps falling off the track, they might have to chug several drinks later on.
* **The Item Swap:** A player taking a sip can force another player to swap the drink they have for their own. This introduces strategy and allows for “poisoning” of opponents with particularly nasty cocktails.
* **The “Mixer Choice”:** The punished player picks the mixer for another person’s drink. This is especially fun if you have a variety of juices, sodas, and other options on hand.
* **The No penalty:** The reverse of the game, you get rewarded for hitting a player with an item or winning the match. You decide who takes a sip!
## Troubleshooting Common Issues
* **Arguments over Rules:** To avoid arguments, make sure everyone agrees on the rules before you start playing. Having a written rule sheet can also be helpful.
* **Players Getting Too Drunk:** If someone is getting too drunk, encourage them to slow down or stop drinking altogether. Offer them water and snacks.
* **Uneven Skill Levels:** If there’s a significant difference in skill levels between players, you can try handicapping the more skilled players by giving them more challenging characters or karts.
* **Controller Issues:** Make sure all the controllers are properly charged and functioning correctly before you start playing. Having extra controllers on hand can also be helpful.
* **Game Glitches:** While rare, game glitches can sometimes occur. If this happens, simply restart the game and try again.
## Conclusion
The Mario Kart drinking game is a fantastic way to add excitement, laughter, and friendly competition to any gathering. By following the guidelines in this comprehensive guide, you can create an unforgettable party experience for you and your friends. Just remember to drink responsibly, stay safe, and have fun! Now, get ready to rev your engines and race your way to a night of Mario Kart mayhem!