It’s impossible to miss them. It feels like walking around Taiwan every 5th shop is an arcade / claw machine shop and out of them every other one has a blinker ball / steel ball / plinko machines or to give it their official name – 小鋼珠機 (xiǎo gāng zhū jī).
As you’ll know if you are walking around with family a lot of your time is spent saying “No, we can’t go into this one” I mean we wouldn’t be travelling for very long if we agreed to spend money at every claw machine shop.
They are often very busy, so it can feel a bit awkward walking in, not really knowing what’s going on but after enough pleading and, let’s be honest, a touch of curiosity – we caved. And we’re so glad we did.
If you’re into fun tech and theme parks, check out our Universal Studios Osaka guide for a high-energy family day out
Quick practical note before the arcade tour. You need data to hunt these machines down, and we used Nomad eSIMs all over Asia, Taiwan included. Sort it before you land and it is one less thing to think about. And if you are building a wider trip around the arcades, our five day Taipei itinerary on a budget is the place to start.
Making a proper trip of it? While you are in the city, do not miss the best day trip from Taipei to Yehliu, Jiufen and Shifen, one of our family highlights.
What Is a Blinker Ball Machine?
First things first: it’s not officially called a ‘blinker’ or ‘blinkable’ machine. We couldn’t find a definitive English name online, but the best way to describe it is a steel ball arcade game a sort of kids’ version of Pachinko meets Plinko, with a flashing LED twist. These machines are big in Taiwan and seem to be everywhere.
You buy a set amount of tiny steel balls think metal ball bearings. For around NT$300–NT$400, you’ll get 800 to 1,000 balls. Each player gets a little container of balls and takes turns firing them into a slot at the top of the machine.
As soon as the ball is inserted, the machine lights up with a row of numbers: 2, 4, 6, 8, and 10. A red dot flashes across these numbers and your goal is to land the ball into one of the lit-up pockets. Depending on where it lands, the machine spits out that number of balls back to you. The higher the number, the fewer slots are lit up. Making it much harder to land on 8 or 10 than on 2 or 4.
Why 100 Balls Matters
While collecting more balls helps extend your game time, the real prize is hitting 100 balls in one session. Every time you reach 100, you’re awarded 10 raffle tickets. That’s when you ring the bell (this is actually the best part), and a staff member checks your machine and hands over the goods. You can double up i.e. if you put in 100 balls on a 2 and it came in you ring the bell twice!
Number Value | Balls Required To Reach 100 |
|---|---|
2 | 50 |
4 | 25 |
6 | 17 |
8 | 13 |
10 | 10 |
Pro Tips for Maximum Fun
One practical tip: half the fun is hunting hidden spots like this down on Google Maps, so do not travel without data. A Taiwan eSIM gets you online the minute you land, with no fiddling over physical SIM cards.
Let’s be clear: this isn’t a strategic game, its completely random but if you want to stretch your fun (and your money), here’s what worked for us:
- Only allow kids to shoot more than one ball if they’ve had five consecutive ‘misses’.
- Use the lower numbers (like 2 and 4) to build your ball stash back up.
- Don’t go all in too early pacing makes the game more exciting.
Where to Stay if You Want to Play
If you are building a trip around Taiwan’s arcades, base yourself in Ximending, Taipei’s neon arcade and entertainment quarter. It is walkable to the retro game halls and a short ride from E7Play, Taiwan’s biggest arcade, which is open 24 hours. We would stay right in the thick of it at Amba Taipei Ximending, a design hotel a couple of minutes from the Ximending walking street that is genuinely good with kids, with under twelves staying free in the larger rooms. You can check family rooms and prices here.
And if you want to build a full day around it, the classic Taipei day trip to Yehliu, Jiufen and Shifen is a perfect pairing. You can book the day tour here.
Lower Your Prize Expectations, Not Your Fun
Look at the end of the day, its still just an arcade machine. Even on our best run we earned 190 tickets in one visit, for our 300 Dollars spent. The shops have some fantastic prizes around and some locals, have their own accounts. So you win the money and save your tickets in an account like a bank account. We weren’t walking away with a PlayStation’s though. At best, you’ll snag some sweets, a couple of small toys, and loads of happy memories. Compared to claw machines that eat your money in seconds, this experience feels interactive, fair, and genuinely fun for everyone.
If you’re in Taiwan with kids, don’t overlook these brilliant little machines. For the equivalent of a few pounds, you’ll kill an hour, laugh together, and maybe even walk away with a lollipop or two. Worth it. Its definitely a family activity you can all enjoy together. Well worth the money in comparison to traditional arcade spend!
Planning more of your trip in Taiwan? Don’t miss our 5-day family Taipei itinerary where we explored the country on under £100 a day – for all four of us.
