An arcade with nothing but claw machines sounds like it could go one of two ways. Either my kids walk out clutching armfuls of stuffed animals, or I walk out $40 lighter with nothing to show for it. We recently visited Catch Win Clawade & Arcade in Castleton to see which way it would go.
As it turned out, it was a little bit of both.
Walking In
The space at 6346 E. 82nd St. in Indianapolis is filled wall to wall with claw machines. When we walked in, the manager greeted us and explained how everything worked, from play cards to the prize system. That was helpful, because at first glance, the setup can feel a little overwhelming.
Right at the front, there’s a ticket desk where you purchase your play card and exchange prizes.
The First Few (Humbling) Tries
We loaded one $40 play card for the family to share, figuring it would give both kids enough turns to really try it out. Then we dove in with zero strategy. After five or six failed attempts, I was mentally writing this place off. “This is rigged,” I thought. “We just blew $40.”…