It’s always interesting when gaming IPs collaborate with restaurants and food chains. You often see meals and drinks inspired by in-game items or themed around the game itself. You never know what you’re going to get—it could be delicious, or it could just be mediocre, driven by capitalism. So, when I heard that one of my favorite Gachas from Shift Up Studios, Goddess of Victory: Nikke, was collaborating with the boba tea chain Xing Fu Tang, I thought, why not? I enjoy boba tea now and then, and the idea of Nikke being involved intrigued me. Plus, it was a one-day-only event on November 16th, so it was a go now or regret later situation. It also helped that there were exclusive Nikke goods available as part of the event.
Was the collaboration and trip to the event worth it? For the most part, yes—if you enjoy boba tea. And if you were lucky enough to win one of the grand prizes in the raffle, then it was an absolute yes on all accounts.
(Disclaimer: This event was not sponsored by Shift Up, Third Nikke Studios, or Xing Fu Tang. All opinions are my own, based solely on personal preferences and experiences.)
What could attendees expect from the pop-up event at Xing Fu Tang in New York? Well, one thing I was humbled by and reminded of is to never underestimate the dedication of any fandom. Fans will arrive early and camp out for hours ahead of an event, as evident from this event, which officially started at noon EST at the Xing Fu Tang shop located at 325 5th Avenue, right in the heart of Koreatown. Even by the time I arrived on the scene, there, a line had already formed and I had arrived early. I assume fans began arriving at least two hours early, maybe even earlier. Thankfully, once the event began, the line moved steadily, and there were no major issues.
As for the Nikke portion of the event, the activities were straightforward. One task involved posting on your socials with the hashtag #NIKKE2ndAnniversary and following both Nikke and Xing Fu Tang’s social media accounts. Another activity required players to show that they had pulled the focus characters, Cinderella or Grave. However, the basic requirement was simply to show you had the default Nikke character, Rapi, making the event accessible to both hardcore and new players. Completing these activities earned you cut-outs of the Pilgrim Gems, just like in the game. These could be redeemed for prizes such as T-shirts, acrylic stands, and photo cards featuring the summer variant Nikkes.
Of course, the main highlight of the event was naturally the drinks.
So what are the drinks offered?
If you are a regular of Xing Fu Tang or Boba drinks in general, you probably know the menu already. For the Goddess of Victory: Nikke event, Xing Fu assigned drinks for certain characters. Gotta say it matches the theme of each’s characters personality.
The go-to drink at the event was the Brown Sugar Boba Milk, aptly categorized as the Ark’s favorite. For any boba drink enthusiast, this is a must-order as it’s considered the standard. One thing Xing Fu Tang takes pride in is preparing the brown sugar syrup and tapioca boba fresh right in front of you. Watching them prepare it adds a nice touch of authenticity, especially with the use of a traditional wok pan.
Next, the Brown Sugar Boba Milk Tea stands out as another excellent choice. Pairing it with Cinderella makes sense, as this version adds tea to the classic Brown Sugar Boba recipe. If you’ve played the recent event in Goddess of Victory: Nikke, you’ll understand how fitting this combination is. For fans of tapioca boba and brown sugar, this drink won’t disappoint.
However, it’s worth noting that these drinks are calorie-heavy and best enjoyed occasionally, especially if you’re watching your intake. Save them for special occasions or when you’re in the mood for a treat. Also, be cautious when sipping—tapioca boba can sometimes get stuck in the straw, and you definitely don’t want to experience a “boba bullet” to the throat from sucking too hard!
The other two drinks, in my opinion, are the better options. First, the Strawberry Matcha Boba Milk is perfect for matcha lovers. It’s a less sugary option for those watching their weight. I love the bitterness of the matcha balanced by the sweetness of the strawberry boba. Pairing this drink with Grave feels fitting—her character has a similarly bittersweet nature. She can come off as bitter but shows a sweet, caring side, especially in her desire to protect Cinderella and ensure her happy ending.
The second option is Jasmine Green Tea with honey and lime slices, a refreshing blend of tea, citrus, and sweet honey for balance. Pairing this drink with the Goddess Squad is an interesting choice. Jasmine tea aligns well with characters like Dorothy and Snow White, while the honey and lime feel reminiscent of Rapunzel and Red Hood.
All these drinks come with collectible cup sleeves featuring the characters, which is a nice bonus. Additionally, when you order any of the drinks, you receive an extra Pilgrim Gem cutout. You can collect up to four cutouts, one for each drink. Depending on how many drinks you purchase, you also get raffle tickets for event prizes. Ordering all four drinks would be pricey since they are priced at $30 a piece, but in my opinion, well worth it. More on that later.
While at the shop, you could also post a sticky note on the wall with a wish to earn the final Pilgrim Gem cutout. This brought the maximum number of cutouts you could collect to nine. These cutouts could be redeemed for prizes, including T-shirts, though those unfortunately ran out of stock before I got to the staff. I ended up redeeming eight gems for a Nikke summer acrylic cutout set—a nice collectible to show off.
One of the highlights of the event was the presence of a few cosplayers. Some were officially involved with the event, while others were fans who arrived in cosplay. Among them were attendees dressed as the Commander, Blanc, and Viper, and even Neve made an appearance. This created plenty of opportunities to take photos with cosplayers, adding to the fun and atmosphere of the event.
So about that raffle I mentioned previously.
For those who purchased drinks, a raffle ticket was included for a giveaway held at 3 PM EST. The prizes included pillows featuring Rapi, Diesel, or Helm, and a grand prize package. The grand prize consisted of a pop-up display of Nikkes, character pins, a lanyard with an ID tag/card holder, a ceramic coaster featuring Alice, and an acrylic set of Rapi, Anis, Privaty, Harran, and Isabel.
The pillows were impressive, showcasing the characters in both their profile and shooting poses. There were plenty of pillows available, but the pop-up display goodies were limited. I bought four drinks, earning me four tickets numbered 58305 through 58308. Like any good gacha player, I prayed to RNG and luck for my numbers to be chosen.
As the raffle progressed, the pillows were claimed one by one, and my hope started to fade. Clutching my ticket to my forehead, I whispered another prayer. Then, as they drew numbers for the grand prize, it happened—58305 was announced! I was overjoyed, rushing to claim my prize. It was quite hefty to carry back home, but it was absolutely worth it, especially after a tough work week.
For me, this experience proved one thing: RNGeus is real!
Overall, the event was enjoyable, and winning the grand prize was definitely a highlight. The drinks were good, albeit a bit pricey. It would have been nice if they had offered some in-game gems for your Nikke account, but receiving physical merchandise was still a great touch. Props to Goddess of Victory: Nikke and Xing Fu Tang for organizing this event—it was genuinely fun.
The sense of camaraderie among Nikke fans was truly astounding. Yes, the game is heavily advertised for its fan service, but if you look deeper, beyond the surface, you’ll discover a complex and intriguing story with an engaging plot. It’s no wonder this gacha has become a top seller and a testament to Shift Up’s ongoing success.
So why not dive in and give it a chance? Won’t you, Commander?
Goddess of Victory: Nikke is available on IOS, Android, and PC.
