Claw machine craze takes over Houston

Axios

3 days ago

Kids, young adults and even elderly folks are packing into neon-lit rooms, all focused on the same mission: snagging stuffed animals from finicky claw machines in arcades that are all the rage in Houston.
State of play: Dozens of claw machine arcades are popping up across the city, with four tucked into Dun Huang Plaza in Asiatown alone.
Most follow the same formula: rows of plush toy machines waiting to be captured by the metal claw.
The plushies aren't the final prize in many places — they can be used as "tickets" or trade-ins for bigger rewards.
Why it matters: It's fun. On weekend nights, crowds pack these spaces, almost shoulder to shoulder. Dozens can be spotted roaming Asiatown with clear bags shaped by the squished plushies inside.
Zoom in: Claw Mania Kingdom, which opened in spring 2024, was one of the first of its kind in Houston, according to Annie Tran, whose family runs the business.
Since then, spots like Little Bubble Claw World and Ready Go Amusement Arcade have opened in the last few months — and despite the competition, each one draws a crowd.
What they're saying: Tran says winning the plushies is a big part of the appeal — Pokémon characters, Sanrio favorites, and soon, trendy Labubus. But there's also nostalgia at play.
"When families come in, a lot of parents are like, 'Oh my gosh, claw machines!'" Tran tells Axios. "They want to share that memory with their kids."
How it works: You buy tokens — each arcade sets its own cost per play, but it's about $1.
Stunning stat: One player at Claw Mania Kingdom played all day and walked out with six bags, each packed with about 20 plushies, saving up for a bigger prize.