Craft a real playable DIY claw machine using everyday materials!
A crane game that kids and adults can’t help but get hooked on! Why not try recreating it as a handmade version you can play anytime? Using familiar materials you already have at home, you can make a realistic crane game.
From the arm’s movement to the claw opening and closing, there are plenty of playful mechanisms.
Options range from battery- and motor-powered electric versions to manual versions operated with twine, with varying levels of difficulty.
You’ll enjoy the building process, and once it’s finished, you can have an exciting time playing with family and friends.
Here’s how to make your own handmade crane game.
Can be made with familiar materials! DIY crane game ideas you can seriously play with (1–10)
A crane game that opens and closes its arm using magnets
Let’s make a crane game out of construction paper.
It uses magnets so that the three-pronged claw closes, and once it grabs something, it won’t open until it returns to the drop slot.
You’ll need four sheets of construction paper, three toothpicks, magnets, string, washers, and prizes like candy.
The base where you attach the arm has a complicated shape, but once you get past that, the rest should come together quickly.
After finishing the arm, make the platform where the prizes sit.
Both parts are three-dimensional, so assembling the components to see how they form the final shapes seems like a great way to build spatial awareness.
A fully-fledged DIY crane game with Arduino
Are you familiar with Arduino, which is commonly used in electronic projects? It’s pronounced “Arduíno,” and by loading programs onto it, you can modify game consoles and toys, read switch states, and control motors.
You can even build a full-fledged claw machine that uses Arduino.
Because it’s authentic, the crane actually moves when you insert money.
Having one at home would probably delight children, but it does require writing programs.
Some people might find programming intimidating.
However, programming has been a required subject in elementary schools since 2020.
Through an Arduino-based claw machine, children who are already interested in programming can enjoy it even more, and those who aren’t might find a new spark of interest.
No base!! A crane game powered by a motor
By cleverly arranging the battery orientation, you can make a crane game that works without a circuit board.
Mentioning battery orientation might remind some of you of what you learned in elementary school science.
Since electric current flows from the negative to the positive terminal, reversing the battery orientation changes the direction of movement.
Let’s apply this principle to the buttons and use it to move the crane game’s arm.
It requires delicate button control, but you can play a crane game that works without a circuit board.
It also serves as a science experiment—your very own crane game.
A crane game made using split pins
Let’s make a three-pronged claw crane using cardboard and split pins.
Since it’s made of cardboard, it’s relatively sturdy and can grab and release small figurines.
It’s fun to build and play with, and it’s also recommended for summer vacation projects.
The materials are simple: cardboard, split pins, yarn, and six AA batteries.
The batteries are used as weights, so used ones are fine.
The claw mechanism might be a bit complex, so study it by watching the video.
Once the claw is complete, just attach it to the crane base and you’re done.
Magnet Crane Game
A crane game that uses magnets can become uniquely fun with just a few clever tweaks.
We recommend building a frame out of cardboard and attaching a clear plastic panel so you can see inside.
Install paper cups inside to hold prizes, and run a tension rod through the sides to create the crane’s range of motion.
Attach a magnet to the end of a string, and it turns into a mechanism that can lift prizes with metal embedded in them.
By turning a wooden rod to raise and lower the string, you can aim and drop with great control, making each attempt exciting.
It’s a compelling idea that lets you experience the fun of ingenuity while you play.
Operate with 4 strings! UFO catcher
This is a crane game that lets you freely play with strings while also exercising fine motor skills.
Use construction paper to make the pillars and frame, and fix bamboo skewers to the base to attach the strings.
Hang a weighted arm made from construction paper there, thread fishing line through it, and set it up so you can pull from four directions.
When you pull the strings, the arm opens; when you release them, the weight causes it to naturally close—allowing you to play just like a real UFO catcher.
Finally, add a prize retrieval slot, and you’ll have a solid finished product that can actually grab and collect prizes.
Building it while understanding the mechanism makes it educational, and it’s a unique idea that encourages trial and error through play.
A cardboard crane game operated with three strings
This is a craft project that recreates an arcade claw machine out of cardboard—something that excites both adults and kids.
Best of all, the claw is realistic and can actually grab objects, so you can enjoy playing the game even after you build it! You’ll make the main frame, the claw control mechanism, the claw, the claw-opening mechanism, and the base of the body in that order.
The claw’s arm is designed to actually move, so it might take a bit of time and effort.
It’s more efficient if parents and children split up the tasks, so definitely give it a try!
A claw machine made only with items from a 100-yen shop
A 100-yen shop has almost everything you need for everyday life.
Here’s a claw machine you can make using only items from a 100-yen shop.
By attaching an A3-size photo frame to a large plastic case as the base, you can build a tall, authentic-looking claw machine.
On top of the main unit, secure a wire mesh and operate the claw using a tape measure.
Turn the tape measure to control the arm with the claw.
It’ll be exciting if you can skillfully grab a prize with the swaying claw.
It’s easy to prepare, so give it a try casually!
Handmade crane game out of cardboard!
A claw machine made from cardboard is a perfect activity for kids who love crafts.
By assembling the cardboard into a box and cutting out windows so you can see inside, you can create the feel of a real arcade machine.
If you use pipe cleaners for the arm, it will move flexibly, letting you enjoy the sensation of grabbing prizes.
Fill it with plush toys or light trinkets, and each attempt becomes more exciting—you can even compete with friends and family.
You can adjust the difficulty by changing how you build it, and once it’s finished, you’ll experience both the satisfaction of completing it and the fun of playing.
It’s a creative idea that lets you enjoy an arcade vibe using familiar, everyday materials.
Simple claw machine with twine and clips
How about making and enjoying a crane game—just like the popular ones at arcades—by yourselves? Connect several straws to create the crane’s axle, and tie on a piece of twine with a clip attached.
Pass the axle through a box made by cutting out cardboard, and you’re done: by rotating the straw section, the clip will catch items inside and lift them up! Fill it with light items like empty candy boxes or small figures, and you can play again and again—an exciting game packed with fun.
