Arcades in Las Vegas, ranked from worst to best

Whether you’re traveling to Sin City or live there, you need to check out our ranking of arcades in Las Vegas because some are seriously stuck in the past.

Las Vegas is truly one of the nation’s cities that never sleep—sorry, New York City, but we’re claiming this title, too. Day or night, you can observe lights illuminating the city like a technicolor dream, showgirls parading the streets between performances, and slot machines cha-chinging as people make their millionaire dreams come true. Las Vegas even has enough speed-dating events to uphold the old adage about happenings in the city (you know the one).

But casinos and performances, whether musical or theatrical, aren’t all that Sin City has to offer—no, the arcades in Las Vegas are the embodiment of family-friendly fun. Whether you hit them up with your friends, children, date, or anyone in between, they’re guaranteed hotspots for fun, and they’re also typically more affordable hangout joints than other gathering places in Vegas.

While arcades are agents of fun no matter how big or small they are, not all arcades in Las Vegas are created equal. That’s why we’ve dug into them and ranked them—we want to help you make your most informed decision before heading out for an afternoon or evening on the town.

10. Round1 Bowling & Arcade

Address: 4000 Meadows Ln, Suit 100, Las Vegas, NV 89107 & 7400 S Las Vegas Blvd, Suite 0213, Las Vegas, NV 89123

Hours: Monday-Sunday: 10 a.m.-2 a.m.

Round1 Bowling & Arcade is a national chain that boasts two Las Vegas locations, one in Meadows Mall and the other in Las Vegas South Premium Outlets.

On the surface, Round1 appears to be a solid old-school arcade, and you can even buy food here, including three varieties of ramen and two different bao options. However, both locations have considerably lower Google reviews than the other arcades in Las Vegas. The South Premium Outlets location has a 3.8 rating, while the Meadows Mall location is sitting slightly higher at 4.2. While these aren’t earth-shatteringly low, the other arcades in Las Vegas have significantly better ratings, with many hovering between 4.8 and 5 stars.

So, what’s holding Round1 back? Well, several reviews call the claw machines “rigged,” and many also say that the pricing for the games isn’t sound enough. “The regular games are fun but the claw machines are a waste of money,” one reviewer added. There are plenty of positive reviews, too, with one referencing a blast from the past: “It was better than Chuck E Cheese, for sure.” Still, the overall negative ratings hold Round1 back on our list. These locations evoke the arcades of the ‘80s and ‘90s, and based on the arcades to come, it would seem that folks are yearning for places that are perhaps a touch flashier.

9. Pick Me Claw Arcade

Address: 7175 W Lake Mead Blvd, Ste. 160, Las Vegas, NV 89128

Hours: Monday-Thursday: 1 p.m.-8 p.m.; Friday: 1 p.m.-9 p.m.; Saturday: 11:30 a.m.-9 p.m.; Sunday: 11:30 a.m.-8 p.m.

Rock Springs Plaza is home to Pick Me Claw Arcade—aka one of the resident K-pop-obsessed arcades in Las Vegas. If that’s your jam, you need to check this place out. Pick Me Claw Arcade is a pink-and-blue dreamboat—yes, we’re using this word for an arcade—that boasts a 4.4-star Google rating, and it’s one of the newer businesses on this list. This newness could be part of the reason why its rating is on the lower side.

At first glance, the lower reviews appear to be misconceptions; for instance, one reviewer mentioned the machines feeling impossible to win, but Pick Me Claw Arcade has guaranteed prizes baked into its premise. Once you’ve spent $20, you’re able to pick out two prizes even if you came up unlucky at the claw machines. Other reviewers are kinder, noting, “This place is awesome!!! The owner is so nice and welcoming! … They actually let you trade plushies for plushies you would rather have.” Overall, we recommend checking this place out for yourself; it’s partially low on this list because so many of the other arcades in Las Vegas are so storied and renowned.

8. THE CLAW

Address: 4850 W Flamingo Rd #42, Las Vegas, NV 89103

Hours: Monday-Thursday: 11:30 a.m.-8 p.m.; Friday-Sunday: 11:30 a.m.-8:30 p.m.

If you’re like us, claw machines remind you of the “Toy Story” scene when everyone’s favorite sheriff and spaceman find themselves temporarily trapped in one. Redditors have joked over the years that the movie wasn’t realistic because the machine’s grip was too good, and if you’ve ever agreed with a sentiment like this, you need to check out THE CLAW in the Flamingo Business Center—one of the arcades in Las Vegas where dreams really can come true. There’s no trickery here—only joy.

Unlike the charismatically bright spots later in the list, THE CLAW features a softer, darker, and slightly moodier atmosphere that makes it a great date-night option. This arcade has more than two dozen machines that are hungry for your coins and ready to dispense the most charming iconography, ranging from sweeping media enterprises like Disney and Pokémon to fan-favorite film series like “Minions” and “The Smurfs.”

However, what holds THE CLAW back is, according to reviews, the fact that its prize selection varies, and the customer service wanes every now and then. “One of the ladies … was just not having a good day, I’m guessing. … Huffing and puffing and smacking her lips when anyone would talk to her or say/ask something,” one reviewer wrote. Still, most reviewers tend to agree with this one: “If you like claw machines, then you must visit this place. It may be small, but it is fun and you will definitely walk out with a stuffed animal or two.”

7. Fantasy Claw Arcade

Address: 3200 S Las Vegas Blvd, Las Vegas, NV 89109

Hours: Monday-Thursday: 11 a.m.-8 p.m.; Friday-Saturday: 10 a.m.-9 p.m.; Sunday: 11 a.m.-7 p.m.

As its name suggests, Fantasy Claw Arcade focuses primarily on claw-machine games, and as its website notes, it’s the “largest claw arcade” in Sin City. We know that arcades in Las Vegas are generally popular, but when they have a specific niche like this, they tend to do even better for themselves—and Fantasy Claw Arcade has performed so well that two more locations are slated to open in Vegas, albeit with TBD opening dates at the time of writing.

Located in the Fashion Show Las Vegas mall, Fantasy Claw Arcade is open for fun galore every day of the week, and visitors certainly seem to leave with wide smiles on their faces. “Such a fun place and so interactive! All the staff were so amazing and kind! Best place to bring your kids and always running great deals,” wrote one Google reviewer. However, some reviews mention the prices being high and items getting stuck in the machines. Overall, the positive reviews and folks on TikTok adoring this gaming getaway landed Fantasy Claw Arcade a middling option in our ranking of arcades in Las Vegas.

6. Claw Planet

Address: 9500 S Eastern Ave #130, Las Vegas, NV 89123

Hours: Monday-Thursday: 12 p.m.-8 p.m.; Friday: 12 p.m.-10 p.m.; Saturday: 11 a.m.-10 p.m.; Sunday: 11 a.m.-9 p.m.

Sansone Park Place is home to some happenin’ Indian food, as well as a Twin Peaks restaurant location—but it’s also home to Claw Planet, one of the premier arcades in Las Vegas. Claw World doesn’t have an official website, only an Instagram profile, but it proves that having less of a digital presence isn’t inherently a harbinger of doom in a business. Claw Planet is beloved in Sin City, as reflected in its cumulative 4.8-star Google rating.

“Wow this place is amazing!! I don’t really like crane games because I never win but the strength of the claws are good!!!” one reviewer wrote alongside a photo that depicts them with several prizes in a clear backpack. Another reviewer noted a particularly charitable experience: “Customer service was awesome. They helped make a few stuffed animals easier to win after we didn’t win one.” The only thing that holds Claw Planet back is its nature as a temporary stop. Many visitors report only stopping by for a short time, quickly giving a few claw machines a go before heading back out. But hey, at least reviewers note that the machines are only $1 per attempt. 

5. Magic Claw

Address: 3650 S Decatur Blvd Suite 9, Las Vegas, NV 89103

Hours: Monday: 11 a.m-9 p.m.; Thursday-Sunday: 11 a.m-9 p.m.

Magic Claw, located in Decatur Twain Shopping Center, comes from the minds at Claw Joyland, whose namesake arcade is also located in Las Vegas. Magic Claw is refreshing for many reasons, including superficially—while many arcades on this list have blue-and-pink color schemes, Magic Claw is lit up in an electric-yellow shade not dissimilar to Pikachu. Of course, Pokémon are on the claw-machine menu at Magic Claw, as are many other beloved characters from Disney, Sanrio (hi, Hello Kitty!), Nintendo, and more.

Overall, this is one of those places that’s great for photos and videos just as much as it is for actually trying your hand at the claw machines because the vibes are so good. One Google reviewer even said that they’d heard Magic Claw “was the best claw store in LV,” adding, “They were not wrong. We ended up going again the [next] day.” The prizes certainly aren’t impossible to win here, either, with one reviewer recalling, “I don’t know if we are really good or if the machines are easier but we collected like 30 stuffed animals.” Ultimately, this is a great go-to arcade, but it can’t go any higher on the list because some other arcades in Las Vegas have longer histories and a wider variety of games.

4. Claw World

Address: 8665 W Flamingo Rd, Unit 119, Las Vegas, NV 89147

Hours: Monday: 11 a.m.-9 p.m.; Tuesday-Thursday: 1 p.m.-9 p.m.; Friday-Sunday: 11 a.m.-9 p.m.

Ready to catch ‘em all at Claw World? From Pokémon to Kirby and even the “Monsters, Inc.” crew, Claw World has all of your favorite characters from childhood and the present day alike. Unlike the number-two entry on this list, Claw World doesn’t seem to have a sentimental origin story, but that hasn’t stopped folks from flocking to it like Goombas when they spot Mario out in the wild.

Nestled in Desert Breeze Plaza, Claw World is great for date nights, but it can be fun for the full family, too. It’s also perfect for social media, boasting a pinkish-purple aesthetic that would look incredibly charming on anyone’s Instagram grid. Making it even more of a social-media hotspot are the TikTok-famous ice creams that Claw World began stocking. You know the ones—the ice-cream treats shaped like mangoes, lemons, and peaches that always look so sumptuous to bite into. Now you know where to get them in person!

“The arcade is filled with a wide variety of claw machines, each brimming with exciting prizes. … The atmosphere is lively and welcoming, making it a great spot for family outings,” one Google reviewer wrote after visiting Claw World, adding that this arcade in Las Vegas is a “must-visit.” All of this has landed Claw World in our number-four spot, where it’s barely been edged out of the top-three bronze, silver, and gold placements. (“Mario Kart,” anyone?)

3. Wolf Claw Arcade

Address: 9890 S Maryland Pkwy Ste 23, Las Vegas, NV 89183

Hours: Monday-Thursday: 12 p.m.-9 p.m.; Friday-Saturday: 12 p.m.-10 p.m.; Sunday: 12 p.m.-9:30 p.m.

We’ve seen by now that there are a lot of claw arcades in Las Vegas, but Wolf Claw Arcade had yet to dash and howl onto the scene—and that’s because it had to be reserved for one of the lower spots on the list. Located in Silverado Ranch Place, Wolf Claw Arcade has a perfect 5-star rating on Google, and with more than a decade in the industry, this arcade has proven time and time again what it takes to entice and retain customers.

The claw machines at Wolf Claw Arcade are constantly aglow in shades of electric and cornflower blue, as well as majestic magenta. They teleport you to a futuristic world that still feels like home each time you enter the building. Plus, the machines here are apparently not too difficult to get the hang of. “This was one of the best claw machine places in Vegas that I’ve been to,” one reviewer wrote on Google, adding, “I liked the selection and the staff was super nice. The lady helped my partner out when she saw him struggling…” With comments like this and a perfect star rating, Wolf Claw Arcade effortlessly earned a spot in the top—it’s only being held back by not having a full range of arcade games.

2. Lucky Puppy Claw Machine Arcade

Address: 9516 W Flamingo Rd #110, Las Vegas, NV 89147

Hours: Monday-Thursday: 3 p.m.-8 p.m.; Friday: 1 p.m.-9 p.m.; Saturday: 11 a.m.-9 p.m.; Sunday: 11 a.m.-8 p.m.

Lucky Puppy Claw Machine Arcade is another of the arcades in Las Vegas that focuses specifically on claw machines and has a perfect 5-star rating. Unlike some other arcades, Lucky Puppy has options for everyone: In addition to traditional claw machines, the business also has “gashapon machines” that are guaranteed to give prizes—they just might not be super-elaborate or super-expensive ones.

What’s fun, though, is that Lucky Puppy allows you to stack your rewards and cash them in for something bigger and better. So, the more you hone your claw machine skills, the more your home will be decorated with the most adorable Japanese plushies this side of the Pacific. If all of this weren’t enticing enough, you should know that a tiny, so-cute-you-could-just-die dog named Boots inspired Lucky Puppy owner Kimberly to bring the joint to life (hence the arcade’s name).

At a glance, Lucky Puppy is a very bright space that’s welcoming of anyone and everyone, but that’s just one reason why folks love it. “I never had so much fun in my life playing claw machine,” wrote one Google reviewer in part. “The employee that works there was a big help. I was struggling on the claw machine, and he was very helpful. Anyways you won’t be disappointed they have a great selection of plushies, and the price is right.” For these reasons and more, we can’t recommend Lucky Puppy Claw Machine Arcade enough.

Two visitors of the Lucky Puppy Claw Machine Arcade hold up a big plushie of the Pokémon Snorlax in a clear bag. (Lucky Puppy Claw Machine Arcade)

1. Game Nest Arcade

Address: 4525 W Spring Mountain Rd #112, Las Vegas, NV 89103

Hours: Monday-Thursday: 12 p.m.-12 a.m.; Friday-Saturday: 12 p.m.-2 a.m.; Sunday: 12 p.m.-12 a.m.

Situated in Hotai Plaza, Game Nest Arcade is known as “the only real arcade in Las Vegas,” according to its website. This should give you a hint as to why it’s landed in our number-one position.

Game Nest Arcade has been serving Sin City for two decades, proving that quality games and personable staff can go a long way. Envision Game Nest Arcade as an upscale version of the arcade in Disney’s “Wreck-It Ralph” except with a more traditional Japanese flair. It’s a bustling space filled with cheers, laughter, music, and plenty of pew-pews and other classic game noises—and that’s partially because there are more than 130 games to be played here.

“Great arcade with a nice variety of high quality games. Had a blast playing all kinds of things I normally might not have tried thanks to the all-you-can-play pricing,” one Google reviewer wrote after visiting Game Nest Arcade. Ultimately, if you’re looking for a traditional arcade that’s been extremely well-maintained and updated, Game Nest Arcade should be your top destination.

This article first appeared on Good Info News Wire and is republished here under a Creative Commons license.