Claw machines have always existed in arcades, but the craze has never died. Apart from being a great way to spend time with friends – or simply as a means to add to your collection of stuffed toys – it’s the thrill of winning that keeps people coming back for more.
As the love of claw machines keeps growing, Singapore has had to expand its collection of arcades – both with a mix of games as well as those specially devoted to UFO claw catchers. Here’s where you can hone your plushie-catching skills at.
Image credit: Xin Hao via Google Maps
Play United at Hougang might be a little cramped, but that just means they have many machines for you to find a new cuddly plushie. $10 will get you 12 tokens, which should be sufficient enough to catch at least 1 toy. Although, if you’ve got butter fingers, some machines allow you to pick a toy if you aren’t able to claw up any prizes.
Each toy also comes with a tag that has Play United points. You’ll want to keep and exchange these if you’re eyeing bigger catches like board games and gadgets like keyboards and drones.
Image credit: Play United via Facebook
Apart from its 3 permanent stores in Hougang Mall, Tampines One, and City Square Mall, Play United has seasonal pop-ups at pasar malams too. You can check the Play United Facebook page on where they’ll be next, so you can get your fill of takoyaki balls, Ramly burgers, and claw machines at one go.
Image credit: The Local Tourist SG via Facebook
P.S. Durian claw machines can be found at the pasar malam pop-ups and at Hougang Mall and Tampines One. Here’s your chance to snag one of these royal fruits for just $1 a play.
Price: $1 per token (1 token per play)
Image credit: Poka-oo via Facebook
Before JCube closes down for good in August 2023, make sure you visit Poka-oo for their claw machines.
Image credit: CapitaLand
Dedicated specifically to claw machines, this arcade has a wide range of toys from brands like Sanrio to Disney and Pokémon, so there’s something for everyone.
Price: $1.50 per game
Image credit: @theytoycatcher via Instagram
If you are someone who likes having small plushies displayed along your desk to keep you company when you’re working, you’ll be spoilt for choice at Pick A Prize. This cosy shop within Bugis Street is mostly filled with miniature plushies and keychains.
Mofusand blind box toys.
Image credit: @pick.a.prize via Instagram
If you aren’t satisfied with what you’ve caught, you can exchange your toys for bigger ones so long as you have a minimum of 3 wins. Most of their prizes are even imported directly from Japan from brands like Mofusand and Bandai.
Price: From $1.50 per play
Address: 3 New Bugis Street, #02-CSLD10 & #02-CYSL01, Singapore 188867
Opening hours: 2pm-10pm, Daily
Contact: Pick A Prize website
Image credit: Fun Claw via Facebook
While Fun Claw doesn’t have actual stores, chances are you’ve seen their blue and white machines around at one of the 24 different shopping centres they’re located at.
Image credit: 缤纷熊之生活点滴分享 via Facebook
Prizes at these claw machines are varied and switched out often but you can check the Fun Claw Facebook page for new additions. Look out for fan favourites like Pokémon plushies and Pom Pom Pals keychains that are almost always up for grabs. This month, they even have cat paw massage balls you can use to knead out knots in your shoulders.
Full list of Fun Claw locations.
Image credit: @ourfuncatchclawmachine via Instagram
The entrance to Paco FunWorld always has plenty of claw machines. Most of these feature recognisable characters like Kuromi from Sanrio and Shellie May from Disney’s Duffy & Friends series.
Image credit: @charlean via Instagram
Once the tokens run out, there’s still an entire indoor playground for kids to explore. It’s fully-equipped with slides, ball pit, and mini obstacle course, so they’re bound to go home content, even if they do go home empty-handed.
Cow Play Cow Moo is known to have Singapore’s largest collection of more than 100 claw catcher machines. Which is great – you won’t have to fight for a machine and can take your time strategising on how to get your “claws” on your favourite toy.
Image credit: Rachel Yohannan via Facebook
Some machines even have a “winners guaranteed” sign, meaning you get a prize after a certain number of tries even if you don’t manage to catch anything.
Image credit: @wanxin_belle via Instagram
As if having so many UFO-machines in one place isn’t enough, this arcade even has a 4m-tall claw machine with giant unicorn plushies.
Price: From $1 per play
Full list of Cow Play Cow Moo locations.
Image credit: Prize Station via Facebook
Prize Station has standard arcade games like car racing machines and electronic basketball, but as its name suggests, claw machines are the main highlight.
Image credit: @changjiex3 via Instagram
They’re known for their giant plushies that will require a skilled hand to kiap. If they’re too big of a challenge, the machines inside have smaller prizes that might be easier to win.
Price: From $1 per game play
Timezone outlets are located everywhere in Singapore, with their biggest store at Orchard Xchange. Most will make a beeline to the car racing games, basketball machines, and even some of the newer attractions like the VR games, social bowling, and bumper cars. But right at the front of each outlet are claw machines where you can win plushies of all sizes.
Price: From $2.30 per game
Full list of Timezone locations.
Image credit: @jastham1983 via Instagram
Beyond the EDM blasting from the rhythmic games like Maimai DX and Taiko No Tatsujin that Virtualand is known for, this arcade also has claw machines with plushies and anime figurines available.
Image credit: Virtualand via Facebook
You don’t have to be particularly skilled at claw machines in order to win. But it does help if you’re skilled at the other arcade games available. Getting high scores means getting more points, which you can accumulate and then exchange for one of the prizes in the machine.
Price: From $0.50 per game
Full list of Virtualand locations.
Image credit: @iclawtaiwansg via Instagram
Zone X is loaded with crane catcher machines and also has regular promotions on public holidays like Labour Day. Now you know what to do when you don’t have to report in for work.
They also have a new style of claw machine that doesn’t just depend on skill, but luck as well. First, you’ve got to be able to grab a gachapon from the machine, then you’ll exchange the ticket with the corresponding tier of prizes available. You might have to win a few times to get the prize you want.
Price: From $1.20 per game
Full list of Zone X locations.
Instead of toys, the Happy Ice Ice Cream Claw Machine lets you win ice cream. There are over 50 of these located all over Singapore for you to “earn” your dessert from.
Image adapted from: Dancing Pigs via YouTube
What’s even better is that these machines allow you to play an unlimited amount of times till you actually manage to get an ice cream. Flavours range from classic vanilla to chocolate and matcha.
Price: $2.50 to $3 per play depending on the location
Full list of Happy Ice Ice Cream Claw Machine locations.
Image credit: Ton Amusement via Facebook
If you’re someone who loves everything Japanese, Ton Amusement will be right up your alley. From cartoon plushies to Q Posket figurines and even electronics, they’ve got a large range of Japanese toys. You can even win instant noodles from Japan here.
Prizes are constantly being updated according to product releases in Japan and holidays like Christmas, so there’s always something new to look forward to.
It’s not hard to guess what Kiap Kiap is all about – here, you can try your hand at “kiapping” toys to your heart’s content.
Image credit: Kiap Kiap via Facebook
Celebrate your wins by snapping a photo in front of their plushie wall, which will add a pop of colour to your Instagram feed.
Arcade frequents will know that Cow Play Cow Moo is one of the must-visits, featuring many classic games alongside newer ones. Good news: the same people behind them have recently opened Arcade Planet, a sister arcade. The 2 establishments are both located in Suntec so you can easily interchange between the two.
The machines here are filled with all sorts of stuffed toys, including Disney Princess ones. They also have music-based games like Jubeat and Taiko Drum Master.
Image credit: Fat Cat Arcade via Instagram
East-siders rejoice: Fat Cat Arcade is the newest and largest arcade in the East of Singapore, so you won’t have to travel too far from home trying to snag your favourite plushies and squishies.
With prices as low as $0.16 per token, this arcade is easily one of the more affordable arcade centres in Singapore with over 100 of the latest games. Come by on holidays like Christmas Eve and Chinese New Year to benefit from their special holiday token deals.
Image credit: @bajisvideo via Instagram
Jakarta Radiant World might be smaller than most arcades, but nonetheless has a good selection of over 10 claw machines. Some reviews say that the claws here have a stronger grip than at other arcades.
On top of the claw machines, Jakarta Radiant World also has carnival target games, giving you another way to win prizes.
They also have smaller, kid-friendly game machines, so no matter what age you are, you’ll have something worth visiting for.
The next time you’ve got coins to spare, head on down to one of these arcades to try your luck. Who knows, you might just be walking away with a handful of plush toys to brag to your friends about.
For more game & entertainment places in Singapore, check out:
Cover image adapted from: The Local Tourist SG & Fun Claw via Facebook, @wanxin_belle via Instagram
Original article published by Giordan Neoh on 29th Jan 2019. Last updated by Raiz Redwan on 21st June 2023
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