Japanese Claw Machines: How UFO Catchers Work and How to Win Them

A two-prong claw over a prize box resting on two bars, the classic Japanese bridge setup, in TINCHA

The first time you play a claw machine in Japan, it feels unfair in a new way. There's no joystick, the claw has two prongs instead of three, and the prize is a box sitting on two metal bars that the claw can barely lift.

That's not a trick. Japanese claw machines, called UFO catchers, aren't designed to be won by lifting. They're designed to be won by pushing, turning and tipping the prize until it falls. Once you see them as physics puzzles, they become very winnable.

Quick answer: a crane game, or claw machine, is an arcade game where you steer a claw over a pile of prizes and try to drop one into the chute. A UFO catcher is the Japanese style of crane game, named after Sega's 1985 UFO Catcher. Most use two buttons (one moves the claw right, the other moves it toward the back) and a two-prong claw. The most common setup is the bridge: a prize box resting across two bars, won by nudging it until it drops through the gap. You win in several plays, not one.

How a Japanese claw machine works

Two buttons, no second chances

A classic UFO catcher has two buttons:

Button 1 moves the claw to the right for as long as you hold it. Let go and it stops.
Button 2 moves the claw toward the back. Let go and the claw drops.

You can't go back or correct. That's why positioning is the whole game: you line up the claw from the side for the first button and from the front for the second. Japanese arcades often leave the side panel clear for exactly that reason, so walk around the machine before the second press.

Two prongs that push more than they grab

Western machines use a three-prong claw to scoop a plush toy. A UFO catcher's two prongs grip weakly on purpose. Their real job is to push: one prong presses one side of the box, the claw's closing motion shoves it, and the box moves a few centimeters. Every play changes the position of the prize, and the next play starts from there.

Skill machines and probability machines

Japanese players separate two kinds of machine:

Skill machines. The result depends on where you put the claw and how the prize reacts. Bridge setups are the classic example.
Probability machines (確率機, kakuritsu-ki). The grip is only strong after a set number of plays, like most Western claw machines. Technique helps less here.

If the claw on a plush machine always lets go at the top no matter where you grab, you're probably looking at a probability machine. Our guide to winning claw machines explains how to tell them apart.

The bridge setup (橋渡し, hashiwatashi)

The bridge is the setup you'll see most in Japan, and the one worth learning first. A prize box rests across two parallel bars with a gap between them. You win when the box falls through the gap into the chute below.

How to win a bridge

The box is wider than the gap, so it can't fall flat. There are two ways to get it through:

Turn it lengthwise (縦ハメ, tate-hame). Rotate the box until its long side lines up with the gap, then it slides down between the bars. To rotate it, drop one prong on a corner instead of the middle: the claw pushes that end and the box turns around the opposite corner.
Tip it sideways (横ハメ, yoko-hame). Walk the box toward one bar until the other edge hangs over the gap, then push the high side down. The box tips, wedges between the bars, and a final push sends it through.

Moving the box takes small steps:

Push the far edge down to walk the box toward you.
Hit the near edge to slide it back.
Drop one prong on a corner to rotate it.
Never aim for the center. A centered grab lifts the box a little and puts it back exactly where it was.

What changes from one bridge to another

No two bridges are the same, and reading the setup before you pay saves most of the money:

Gap width. A wide gap is easy to tip through; a narrow one needs the lengthwise finish.
Bar angle. Bars that open in a V make the box slide toward the wide end on its own.
Box weight and balance. Heavy figures inside move less per push, and a box with its weight to one side tips toward that side.
Claw strength and drop depth. A claw that stops short only touches the top of the box; a strong one can push it a lot in one play.

Other Japanese setups you'll find

Takoyaki. Balls sit in a tray full of holes, named after the round snack. Get a ball into a winning hole to win the big prize.
Rings and tags. Prizes hang from a ring or tag, and the trick is to hook a prong through the ring instead of grabbing the prize.
Pushers and slides. A prize rests on a shelf or ledge, and you push it toward the edge a little each play.

Tips for playing UFO catchers in Japan

Watch before you play. Someone else's last five plays tell you how strong the claw is and how the box moves, for free.
Use the 500-yen deal. Many arcades give you six plays for 500 yen instead of five for 100 each. A bridge usually takes several plays, so the bonus play counts.
Ask the staff. In Japan it's normal to ask an attendant to move the prize to a better starting position (osusume), especially after several tries. They want people to win: winners draw a crowd.
Set a limit. Decide how many plays the prize is worth to you before you start, and walk away when you reach it.
Big chains: GiGO (the former Sega arcades), Round1, Taito Station and Namco all have whole floors of UFO catchers.

Practice the Bridge Before Your Trip

TINCHA's 3D claw machines use the Japanese setup: two buttons, a two-prong claw and a prize box on two bars, with real physics. Free in your browser.

Play Now!

Can you play Japanese claw machines online?

Yes, in two very different ways.

Real machines over video. Services like Toreba stream real UFO catchers from Japan to your phone. You pay per play and the prizes ship from Japan. Authentic prizes, real costs. Before buying credits, read our comparison of real-prize and free claw machine games.

A free physics simulation. TINCHA is built around the Japanese bridge:

The same controls. One button moves the claw right, the other moves it back, and you can't correct.
A two-prong claw and a prize box on bars. You win by knocking the box off, so pushing a corner, tipping an edge and reading the gap all work the way they do in a Japanese arcade.
Every machine is different. Bar spacing, bars that open in a V, boxes turned at an angle, off-center weight and claw strength change from machine to machine, and the difficulty is marked on each one.
Real physics, not hidden odds. The box moves because of where the claw hit it.

The prizes are characters and items you use to build your own stores in a shared city. TINCHA is free and runs in desktop and mobile browsers, with no download.

Frequently Asked Questions

What does UFO catcher mean?

It's the Japanese name for a claw machine. It comes from Sega's 1985 UFO Catcher, whose claw looked like a flying saucer, and became the generic word for crane games in Japan.

Why do Japanese claw machines have two prongs?

Because they're designed for pushing, not lifting. Two prongs grip weakly but push precisely, which suits setups like the bridge, where you move the prize a little on each play.

How do you win a bridge claw machine?

Don't try to lift the box. Rotate it by dropping one prong on a corner until it lines up with the gap, or walk it to one side and push the high edge down until it tips through. It usually takes several plays.

Are Japanese claw machines rigged?

Some are probability machines, where the grip is only strong after a set number of plays. Bridge setups and most box prizes are skill machines: the result depends on positioning and physics, and staff will often move the prize to help you.

Can I practice UFO catchers online for free?

Yes. TINCHA has free 3D claw machines with the Japanese two-button controls and bridge setups, in any modern browser.

Your Browser Is a Japanese Arcade Now

Two buttons, two prongs, a box on two bars and real physics. Free, no download, desktop and mobile.