We often have the impression that these machines are rigged, programmed to make us lose. And yet, some players leave with their arms full of gifts. Their secret? They don’t use pliers like everyone else.
Who has never felt their heart racing in front of the window of a claw machine, their eyes glued to this colorful plush toy that seems to be just waiting for us? It’s an almost sacred ritual, a challenge that we take on among friends or to impress our children, convinced that this time will be the right one. Although these glass boxes have existed for more than a century, the phenomenon really exploded in the 1980s with the famous Japanese “UFO Catcher”, before conquering the entire planet. Result: even today, they remain the undisputed stars of fairgrounds and arcades.
But we must admit, it is often difficult to win a stuffed animal or toy on the first try on this type of capricious device. The scenario is always the same: once the coin is inserted, the countdown begins and the pressure builds instantly. We only have a few seconds to move the joystick and lower the metal clamp, and there, the suspense is at its height. The stuffed animal is caught… but ends up slipping and freeing itself from the clutches of the machine to fall back into the pile. Result, we spend coin after coin to try our luck again, and over time, the bill starts to climb. Luckily, there are (almost) foolproof tips to finally win the jackpot in these lint catching machines.
On social networks, several arcade game experts share their methods for succeeding almost every time. The TikTok account @winnereverytime offers a technique that works on all the stuffed animals piled up closest to the hole into which they must fall to win. This method involves grabbing the lint by its side farthest from the hole, which will cause it to roll once the clip is raised. Yes, the logic is unstoppable: with this trick, the toy that slips out of the clamp at the fateful moment will still end up rolling to the exit chute!
The @casclawtok account reveals another similar variation, which it calls the one-branch method: “Instead of trying to grab with all three claws, use just one. Aim for the far side, so that when the claw closes, it pulls the stuffed animal toward the chute. The three claws often tend to push the stuffed animal down or slide it, but one claw helps snag it and pull it forward.” explains the Tiktoker. If you fail at the first attempt, the stuffed animal will at least have come very close to the conduit, increasing the chances of catching it on the next attempt. For his part, content creator @theclawninja is a fan of the “tornado technique”. This consists of moving the joystick in all directions to try to make a lint fall, especially those present on the walls of the machine. For maximum efficiency, it is therefore better to aim for toys close to the exit of the machine.
Finally, keep in mind a golden rule inherited from casinos: as with slot machines, pros recommend avoiding playing right after someone has won. Now that you have all the cards in hand, all you have to do is spot your target and prove that luck has nothing to do with it!
