We launched a 2025 Q3 questionnaire (3,200 distributed, 3,012 valid, 94.1% recovery) targeting 3-12-year-olds and parents to explore their real needs.
1. Overall Overview: High Penetration and Obvious Demand Contradictions
In 2025, claw machines are common in daily life, but a contradiction exists: children are eager to play, while parents hesitate.
92.7% of children have played claw machines; 43.2% play weekly, 10.5% play over 4 times a week. Only 38.4% of parents fully support it, 47.2% allow it occasionally, 14.4% oppose it.
Main scenarios: mall corridors (68.3%), cinema waiting areas (57.8%). Independent stores accounted for 28.9% in 2025, but parents mostly play incidentally.
2. Core Needs: Contrasts Between Parents and Children
Children value achievement (76.5%) more than dolls (48.3%), with 57.2% caring about IP dolls (68.9%) and social interaction, 38.7% wanting new gameplay and convenient payment.
Parents worry about safety (89.1%), low cost-effectiveness (76.4%) and addiction (71.6%), but 48.9% are willing to play with parent-child interaction.
3. Industry Breakthrough and Practical Suggestions
There is a demand mismatch. Core supply-demand comparison:
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Demand Dimension
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Children’s Needs
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Parents’ Needs
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Current Industry Status
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Core Demand
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Sense of achievement, immediate stimulation
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Safety, cost-effectiveness, controllability
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Profit-oriented, neglecting experience and safety
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Doll Preference
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IP co-branded, high appearance
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Safe material, usable
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Mostly ordinary plush, some low-quality
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Price Acceptance
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Insensitive, focusing on experience
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1-2 yuan per play
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Generally 2-5 yuan per play
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Additional Needs
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New gameplay, convenient payment
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Parent-child interaction, positive guidance
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Single gameplay, lack of guidance attribute
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62.8% of parents will play regularly if safety and cost-effectiveness are solved, and 78.3% of children prefer playing with parents.
Practical suggestions for operators and parents:
Operators: Prioritize safety and cost-effectiveness, upgrade IP dolls and gameplay, add parent-child features.
Parents: Guide rationally, set rules, accompany children, and choose safe merchants.
4. Conclusion: Beyond Needs, Towards Understanding
The questionnaire shows children want happiness and achievement, while parents seek safety and guidance.
We hope operators focus on experience and parents show more understanding, letting children gain growth from playing.
Welcome to share your experiences in comments.
