Claw machine craze takes over Houston
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Buzzing with excitement on the weekends. Photo: Shafaq Patel/Axios
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.
- Shops get new merch every couple of weeks.
- Some people come for the plushies; regulars often trade them in for collectibles or even artwork from artists like KAWS.
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.
The bottom line: Relive a childhood thrill — and maybe leave with a bag full of plushies.