Kako Claw

Kako Claw

Reviews Summary

Kako Claw offers a fun, family-friendly experience with helpful staff who enhance gameplay by adjusting machines for better chances. Most reviewers praise the fair claw mechanics, variety of cute prizes, and exceptional customer service, especially from employees like Eric and Kevin. While many win multiple prizes with moderate spending, a few find the machines inconsistent or rigged. Overall, it’s a popular spot for kids and adults, with high satisfaction due to the welcoming atmosphere and frequent prize updates. Some note the $10 minimum spend, but most consider it worth the cost for the enjoyable experience.

About This Listing

Good for kids
Has Prizes
Wheelchair Accessible

Who Can Play?

Most arcades welcome all ages (some may have age restrictions for certain games)
Minors may need parent/guardian supervision (policies vary by location)
No gaming experience required - games range from beginner to expert level
Comfortable clothing and closed-toe shoes recommended for safety
Valid ID may be required for certain attractions or age verification
Groups and parties welcome (advance booking may be required)

*Note: Age restrictions and policies may vary by arcade. Check with your local facility for specifics.*

First-Time Visitors

First-time visitors may need to sign a waiver or register for a game card. Staff are typically available to help explain games and provide tutorials. Some arcades offer newcomer specials or free play sessions to help you get started.

Common Restrictions:

Age-Based Some games may have height or age requirements for safety reasons
Capacity Popular games may have wait times during peak hours

*Note: Policies vary by arcade. Confirm with your local facility.*

What to Bring

Cash or card for tokens/credits (some arcades are cashless)
Valid ID for age verification or membership signup
Phone to capture high scores and memories (check photo policies)

*Note: Payment methods and requirements may differ by arcade.*

Preparing for Your Visit

Check arcade hours and peak times online before visiting
Eat beforehand or check if the arcade has food options
Bring friends for multiplayer games and competitions
Wear comfortable clothes you can move freely in
Avoid bringing valuable items that could be lost or damaged
Check for special events, tournaments, or discount days
Set a budget for games and stick to it
Stay hydrated, especially during long gaming sessions

*Note: Tips may vary by arcade type and location.*

How to Get Started

Most arcades accept walk-ins, but call ahead during busy periods or for large groups. Check for membership deals!

Other Helpful Info

Most visits last 1-3 hours depending on games and group size
Popular games may have longer wait times during weekends and evenings
Many arcades offer unlimited play packages or time-based pricing
Some locations host tournaments and special events regularly
Prize redemption available at many arcades - save your tickets!

*Note: Policies, pricing, and features differ by arcade. Contact your local facility for details.*

How Arcade Prize Games Work

Dive into the excitement of arcade prize games! Expect claw machines, skee-ball, whack-a-mole, or basketball challenges where you test your skills or luck to win tickets or prizes directly. Claw games require precise joystick control to grab toys, while redemption games reward accuracy with tickets to trade for plushies, gadgets, or trinkets at prize counters. Modern setups boast colorful displays and smooth mechanics, blending nostalgia with fresh fun. The thrill of winning and the vibrant arcade vibe make prize games a captivating draw in 2025.

Features

Good for kids
Has Prizes
Wheelchair Accessible

Contact Information

Address

1500 Polaris Pkwy #2004

Columbus, Ohio 43240

Hours

Monday 11AM-8PM
Tuesday 11AM-8PM
Wednesday 11AM-8PM
Thursday 11AM-8PM
Friday 11AM-8PM
Saturday 11AM-8PM
Sunday 12-6PM

Customer Reviews

Nice fun place, we did the $50 to play and walked out with about 6 squishy toys. They have the ?upgrade? your wins to bigger prizes and it was reasonable point scales. We drove over an hour away to check it out. While not an ?all day? kind of place it was fun addition to our day at Polaris.

What an amazing experience! We came here for my daughter?s birthday and she told me after we left that that was the best experience of her life! Eric and Shelby were the most amazing employees. Eric quickly found us and gave us the rundown for us newbs. He made sure our experience was top notch. I've never experienced such incredible customer service before. Especially from two employees at the same place. They truly care about the customers. They gave everyone that came in the most amazing service. Whateve

My wife LOVES claw machines, like, cried at Universal loves them. But she also gets really angry when she feels like they're unfair.... Like cried at universal angry ??. She had an absolute blast playing here. With only thirty tokens she won five considerably nice prizes. Definitely one of the best claw arcades we've been to.

Eric, Lillie, and Taylor were super attentive and knowledgeable! We went for my friends bday and this trip absolutely made her day. Highly recommend!!

Eric at Kako Claw made our first visit an unforgettable experience! From the moment we walked in, he greeted us with a warm smile and took the time to explain everything, which really put us at ease ? especially my 10-year-old. He went above and beyond to make the experience fun and memorable. Eric truly has a heart of gold ? he's polite, respectful, and incredibly patient, especially with kids. His customer service is top-tier, and you can tell he genuinely cares about the people who walk through the door

We came for a friend?s birthday and had the BEST time! We worked with Lillie and Eric and they helped explain the whole process and get us started since we had never been before. These are not the claw machines where it's super hard to win and we were able to win so many prizes as a group! We will definitely be coming back!

Had a wonderful experience at Kako Claw! My nephews had such a great time and real enjoyed the whole experience. Eric was FANTASTIC and really went above and beyond to ensure boys could get what they wanted with their points. Having great staff really makes the difference and Eric did just that. He was kind and helpful. Will definitely be returning!

My husband, son and I have been a couple of times now and love it! (The first time I've ever actually been successful at claw machines!) We love that you can trade in the mini stuffed animals for ?behind the counter? upgrades! The store is always clean, stocked and associates like Kevin help ensure we are having the best time! Thank you! ??

This place is really fun. Lots of cute prizes and you don't have to spend a lot to win things!

Super fun spot! The machines are clean, colorful, and well-maintained, and the variety of prizes makes it exciting to play. Staff was friendly and the vibe was great for both kids and adults. We had a blast and will definitely be coming back. Highly recommend if you're looking for something fun to do at the mall!

Easily one of the best experiences in Columbus and for all ages! We were helped out by Eric, Lillie, and Taylor and they were extremely attentive and helpful. We appreciate the exemplary service, and we will be back!!!

We had a blast at Kako and pulled in 4 cute stuffies. The staff is wonderful and will ensure you have a great time.

I won so many cute plushies today! The staff is always so nice. It's such a cute and fun place !

Went today for the first time and had a great time with my 5yo. We walked out with 6 prizes. There is a skill to getting the items to be grabbed by the claw, if you don't know what to do it may be frustrating and you could walk out with no items. However, as a mom that has been dragged to many arcades I've mastered the trick of the claw and only spent 20$ and had a happy kiddo when we walked out. Super cute place!

I don't usually leave reviews, but I had to take a moment to shout out the incredible customer service I received at your Polaris location. One of the employees there, Kevin I believe, went above and beyond to make my visit special. They were patient, kind, and even gave me a few tips on how to increase my chances of winning one of the plushies. It's rare these days to come across someone who clearly takes pride in their work and genuinely wants others to have fun. If management happens to read this, pleas

My friends and I heard about this place and tried it out. I was able to get some prizes within a couple tries. The employees were really nice and enjoyed the prizes you could get. There was a scissor machine and I tried it. One of the employees noticed I didn't understand how it worked and showed me. They also paid me back for my attempt on that machine to try again. It is enjoyable when you realize that you might win some and you might lose some.

My 12-year old daughter and I visited Kako Claw at the Polaris Mall today and had an absolute blast! She left with 12 plushies and a big smile on her face! Eric and Shelby were so nice and extremely helpful during our entire time here. We were so impressed and can't wait to come back!

This place is incredible and people are very nice. Went in today, and the place was clean and well taken care of. I always have great interactions with the people that work there. This is such a great place to go and let the kids play. Sometimes you win sometimes you don't but it is a great reward for the kids and they love it. And I also sneak in a few plays myself.

My son and I frequent this location and it's such an exciting time! We always leave with fun prizes. I noticed the selection of toys differs from time to time which is nice to have a variety. Great place to visit!

Had so much fun visiting Kako Claw today!! The staff were so friendly and helpful and the claw machines were stocked with such cute prizes. Definitely recommend for everyone to check it out!

We had the BEST first experience here today! It was our girls? birthdays and both workers were beyond kind and made sure our girls won a prize! It was a huge confidence booster and they went on to win 6 stuffies and two keychains! The experience, the workers, and the prizes were all so amazing. We will definitely be back :)

Clean place, friendly employees. However, machines that were previously one token are now two tokens ($1/token). Also, the grip on the claws is not as good as it was before and items repeatedly drop after being grabbed. Some of the machines like the ones containing keychains also don't have enough clearance to get the item out. As we were leaving, another customer stated "That place was a total rip-off." I'd have to agree. On previous visits you were almost guaranteed to get a prize. Now prices have gone up

Jamie and especially Eric were outstanding and made our visit much more than we expected. My grandkids really enjoyed themselves along with Eric's interactions with them.

This place is new to Polaris. Located upstairs next to Macy?s. It was a great experience for the whole family. The staff were extremely helpful, friendly, and jumped in to ensure the kids had a blast. We'll definitely be back!

Such a fun place for kids, they have a great selection of claw machine games. But what really made me fall in love with this place was after my 4 yr old daughter won a prize, the kind lady made sure my son won a prize too. I HIGHLY recommend!

Soon as you walked in this mug. It's 100 degrees. Employees was not very social. My wife was so excited to come here. When she left she said it's a scam. It ruin her birthday. She was upset. Thanks a lot guys. She spent 50 bucks for 20 mins. Some of the stuff she tried getting had it perfect then the claw just drops it. It's a big ole scam. We will never go back. We traveled 1 hour to be dissatisfied. It's small. Some of them machines had to get on your knees. Marble game was confusing. Just awful experienc

My girls (5yrs & younger) love coming here whenever we visit the mall. They have toddler sized machines which are easier for them to use (Though that doesn't stop them from wanting to try everything if we'd let them). Today, my 2 year old was trying, and she kept hitting the button the second I put the coins in, which led to the claw dipping into where it should drop the prizes. The staff there were so nice, and after noticing, we blew all our tokens. I was just trying to get past the prize bucket, slippe

10/10 place to go!! The employees are super sweet and the store is so cute. The claw games are very fair, the prices are good, and I always leave with the cutest plushies!!

Kako Claw is so nice and I like the building. Everyone are so nice and they make people happy. I am really appreciate Eric and Morgan today help me today. They show me around and I really love it????

The staff is friendly, the games are fun, and the prizes are cute. I love that you can switch them out for another plush in the exact machine. They truly just want you to win! I'd love to see this business grow and see more claw machines!

Kiddos always have a blast and we now have a very happy golden with all the back up carrots! Staff is so nice!!! Thank you!!!

Omg this place is so fun! I won so many plush toys! Its addictive I will for sure come back and recommend! Clean store staff is welcoming and kind!

Amazing staff! My family had a great time and my son definitely made some great memories! Kevin was amazing and is the reason we will be coming back!

Super cute arcade! Tons of Sanrio as well as other varieties from Pok?mon to Disney etc. most games are 2 tokens a play which isn't bad at all! Keychain ones were 1 token and my personal favorite.

10/10 would recommend going to this place. it's really fun and the worker was really nice they helped up a lot.????????????

Pretty fun. Daughter won 2 stuffies for 10$ In comparison, there's a spot in the middle of the mall you can pay 10$ for a gumball machine toy

It's always fun stopping in here with my wife and son. Fun to actually win stuff animals! And Kevin, so friendly and awesome! Always good seeing him there!!

You should bring your kids here. And the employees are super nice! They gave us 10 free tokens "10 dollars" for free and help make you win arcades I give this a 10/10

Excellent place. The staff were super friendly and very helpful. We walked out with so many prizes and had a lot of fun. Definitely worth the money spent.

Awesome claw machine arcade! Very worth the money, you will win. No rigged machines here. The staff was amazing. I saw one staff member non stop keeping every machine stacked with an easy win. We spent $55 and walked away with 10-11 nice sized, quality, and brand plushies.

Very colorful and clean. Minimum coin purchase is $10 and it mostly costs two coins per play, unless you're trying to get a keychain. The claws seem to be programmed to grip every other try. For the most part, the items are good (they had a lot of pokemon plushies) and the staff was super friendly and helpful.

Claw machines are programmed to be on their side. First time we've visited spend about 30 to 40 dollars and got 6 dolls by luck. Second visit spend 30 dollars and only got 2.. it's rigged. 2 dollars per play and only can 10 dollars increments.

Went for the first time today. Amazing! The staff was so helpful and explained how everything worked. It's challenging but you win a lot. Highly recommend!

Wow! So much fun! My kids 9, 8, 6 were in heaven! And you actually WIN! Then you have the chance to trade in prizes!!

Walked in on a whim and had a great experience! Lots of real cute plushies and keychains to win. Won almost every time and walked out with a bag full! Lennon was my clerk and she was awesome!

Super clean and nice place, the prizes were fun and the prices were affordable. Far more fair claws then a lot of places I've gone, and the staff was extremely friendly and welcoming.

We walked in just to look around and Lennon (the clerk) gave us each a free token. We both won on our first try and ended up spending a few dollars. We left with so many plushies :)

I took my daughter to Kako Claw for a birthday surprise. It was an outstanding experience! The staff was friendly and beyond helpful. If you were struggling to win, they were more than happy to help and see a smile on your face. The store was clean, bright and very welcoming. We left with a large bag of goodies and my daughter was so happy. Very easy to win a lot of stuff. Will definitely go back!

Best place in the whole mall. The employees are amazing and the prizes change often. We go everytime we're in the area even if it's just for Kako

I was visiting from out of town and stumbled upon here. It was so much fun for myself and my kids! Good plushies!

Enjoyable place for stuffed Pok?mon and arcade like claw machines. Not as rigged as traditional arcade franchises, but a little challenge. The employees are very friendly and will reset on request, allowing for potential wins. Small, but very personable.

The staff was so friendly and went above and beyond to make sure our girls were successful in getting a prize. We will definitely be back.

We showed up for my son?s birthday party and ended up getting the birthday package which was amazing! The staff was incredibly friendly, kind and helpful. The boys all won prizes and truly had the time of their lives. I HIGHLY recommend doing this for a birthday party or just for fun. We had the best time and will definitely be back!!

My daughter and I stumbled across this little gem on our way to the indoor playground at Polaris. She loves claw games so we went and played a few. The smaller games the claws work great and as long as you can line up the claw, you're basically guaranteed a prize. The larger games are a little trickier, but we've won several of them. I have to say, the staff here is amazing. Can't say enough about how great they are. Multiple occasions they have watched us lose then walk over, open the machine, and literall

the claw machines are pretty easy! they don't just pack the stuffies in the machine to where you can't get them. prices are wonderful. and the workers are so kind and are willing to help with everything!

I really loved this place because the claw machines weren't rigged and the workers were really nice and very kind! Me and my BFF got lots of prizes and would LOVE to come back again soon!??????

We absolutely loved our experience here. We stopped by on a whim and I was so happy to see that they had games that were the perfect height for my toddler. She was so excited to play and the staff was just absolutely amazing. We didn't win anything on our own >_< but please don't let this discourage you! I saw another child who had bags worth of prizes lol the staff did let us know that if we didn't win anything with the amount of tokens we purchased then they would ?help us?. Well we didn't win so they set

The worker was super nice! The worker helped us a bunch and was detailed in the explanation of how one of the games worked! the whole experience was amazing and super fun! The whole environment friendly and cute! There were such cute prizes and you could trade them out for any other ones that you liked from the machine. Definitely coming back!

This is by far the best place in the whole mall. It's so fun and every time my friends come to Polaris Mall, we make sure to come to here at least 10 times. All of the employees are always so kind too. Especially Shelby. She's so kind to the customers and always has a positive attitude . The machines here are so fun and easy to win too. If I could give this place more than 5 stars I would. I greatly recommend it.

Took our 6 year old nephew and we all had a great time! Kids have a great chance to win prizes, the staff, especially Eric, were so nice and even fluffed up the prizes in the game to make it fairer. We will definitely be back!

This was so fun and the staff are so friendly and helpful! My kids has a blast and we can't wait to go back. The machines are great and we won a lot! The quality is high too, better than a regular claw machine

This place is super fun! It isn't cheap, but we won lots and lots of plushies. The machines are not super super hard to win from and had lots of cute toys. It was clean and the employees were working hard to keep the machines nice and stocked. Both individuals working were very friendly and kind. We had a great time and will be back!

Incredible experience, I learned a lot about crane game strategies from the staff, and they helped my friends and I out when we were struggling to get the stuffed animals we wanted at the beginning. Highly recommend them ??

My husband and I stopped in on a whim walking by bc the store reminded us of the UFO catcher games in Akihabara in Tokyo (claw games in Japan). The staff was super nice and helpful and we won a ton of Pokemon and Sanrio plushies!

Eric was absolutely lovely. Super helpful! We had lots of fun.

I only won 3 prizes for $20, but the staff were INCREDIBLE. Like, above and beyond great. They helped us with everything we didn't know, showed us tricks for the machines to help us win, and even offered to give us a freebie if we walked out with nothing. Truly great service. It's a super cute, fun place, but keep in mind, just because the machines aren't rigged doesn't mean they're easy. :)

My kids are obsessed with claw machines. Seeing Kako Claw at Polaris, we couldn't wait to go! I didn't know what to expect walking in. I do know it went above and beyond my expectations. The staff kind, helpful, understanding, very informative. I was so please with the joyful attitudes! So many places have rude people working and we didn't experience any of that. The employees help make it a very fun experience, along with all the varieties of claw machines they have. My son loved the idea of trading up wit

Ton of fun! The staff was really nice and the atmosphere of the store was very welcoming. I'm not the best at claw games, but you're able to get some prizes if you know what you're doing. Definitely worth the $10 I spent.

This claw shop was amazing and very easy too win making it fun for all ages and perfect for Little kiddos!! I had lots of fun on the mystery box machine with the figures and the soda cans. The prices are great in comparison too other arcades as well! Overall a 10/10 experience

My 5 year old son had a great time and was able to win 4 stuffed animals for $20. The staff is super nice and even changed out one of the bears for his favorite color one. We will definitely be back!

Honestly, this place was just so fun. We went for about two hours and had so much fun. The claw machines are pretty good and fair with the chances of getting a prize. The employees were nice and solves issues quickly, even fluffed some of the machines for better probabilities! The environment was slightly crowded but that's not their fault at all. Overall, environment was wonderful, Employees were kind, claw machines are great, and the prizes are worth it!

We had a wonderful experience. Eric was extremely with helping the boys win.

Every time I come in there are different plushies to win! ?? my inner child is so happy this place exists <(^-^<)

We took the kids there for the first time and it was so much fun!! There were lots of cute prizes and it was so nice having the claws at a normal strength instead of not even being able to hold onto the prizes! The staff was extremely helpful and friendly! We will definitely be back!

Super cool place and fun prizes. The staff is very nice and helpful. We won!

Daughter, mother, and I had an amazing time. Staff incredibly helpful, went above and beyond for a fun experience!! Thank you kako claw for the unexpected fun time!

I swung by Kako Claw this weekend 'cause my kids wouldn't stop talking about it, and honestly, it was worth it. Kevin and the crew were super cool and made sure we had a blast. The kids had way more fun than I expected. They already asking to go back, so I'm definitely using it as a reward for good grades and getting their chores done.

The attendants are so fantastic here, always so nice and helpful. Plus the games are a blast.

This place is amazing. My son had a blast and the staff is amazing!

The two employees at the time of our visit were incredibly nice, kind, socialable, and honest. They told me how often you win on the machines, how the whole process of trading up or trading out plushies works, and were just very nice overall. I paid $10 for 10 tokens and played 5 different claw games that cost 2 tokens each. I won 3 times and was very close to making it 4. The machines are very winnable!

Store was clean and machines were well stocked. Employees walk around and adjust the stuffed animals to give more success and even gave us some free tokens when the claw dropped the prize before making it to the chute. Overall a nice addition to the mall, will come back!

This place is so much fun! My two kids absolutely loved it. Their employee, Lennon, was absolutely delightful! She was funny and gave my kids so much encouragement. She is the best person to have in a place like this!

I(54) went in with my son (30) while we were walking the mall! We had so much fun, like little kids! The staff is very friendly and helpful! Great place to go if you wanna feel like a kid again!

Kako Claw is such a fun place to visit! The staff is incredibly helpful and enthusiastic. They genuinely want to help each customer win, and they will make sure you leave with a prize! We had a wonderful experience! :)

Extremely disappointed! Read all these great reviews so decided to give it a try. Took my daughter in there and spent $20 and barely walked out with 1 little prize. My daughter was so disappointed. My husband is really good at claw machines and I didn't not see an improved in the winning ratio on these machines like the reviews said. I don't recommend it.

Love this place! The inside is very nice and bright, it stands out when you walk by so we were drawn in. The machines are fun to play and easy to win. We've been multiple times now and they always have new things to win inside.

Had so much fun today! While you won't win every time, the claws are much more fair then other places, like bowling allies or arcades. Won 2 prizes out of five tries! Absolutely coming back!

Awesome spot! We love playing here. We always win lots of plushes and the staff are so friendly and helpful. One of our absolute favorite places to go!

Frequently Asked Questions

What’s it like visiting an arcade today?

It’s a mix of nostalgia and high-energy fun! Many arcades blend retro classics like Pac-Man and pinball with modern VR games, racing simulators, and rhythm challenges — often with music, lights, and a social vibe.

Is it better to go alone or with friends?

Both can be great! Solo visits let you focus on your favorite games, while going with friends adds competition, teamwork, and laughs. Many people plan arcade meetups as a casual hangout or even date spot.

What should I bring to an arcade?

Usually just yourself and a way to pay (some arcades still use coins, others use cards or apps). If you're competitive, bring your A-game. If you're social, bring friends or meet new ones over multiplayer games.

What’s the best time to visit an arcade?

Weekdays or early afternoons are usually less crowded — perfect for focused play. Evenings and weekends bring the buzz, especially at barcades or venues with DJs, tournaments, or themed nights.

Can I meet new people at arcades?

Absolutely! Arcades attract a mix of casual players and serious gamers. Whether you're jumping into a four-player co-op or chatting between rounds, it's a fun, low-pressure way to connect over shared interests.

Are arcades still just for kids?

Not at all. While many arcades are family-friendly, there are also adult-oriented ones with full bars, 18+ nights, or vintage nostalgia themes. Arcades today cater to everyone — from first-timers to lifelong gamers.

Are there events or tournaments I can join?

Yes! Many arcades host regular competitions, retro nights, cosplay parties, and more. Whether you're into high scores or just want to watch and vibe, events add an extra layer to the experience.

What if I’m not great at arcade games?

No worries — arcades are about having fun, not being perfect. Try a variety of games, ask others for tips, and remember: the vibe is more “let’s play” than “let’s win.”

Why are arcade prize games so exciting to play?

Arcade prize games are a thrilling highlight in 2025! Claw machines, skee-ball, and ticket-redemption games like basketball offer a rush of skill and chance, with rewards like plushies, toys, or electronics up for grabs. Modern machines feature vibrant lights, digital scoreboards, and responsive controls, amplifying the fun. The lively arcade atmosphere, with cheering crowds and buzzing energy, makes every win feel epic.