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Overview
The Claw Machine is a mini-game in Neverness to Everness, part of the Hethereau Hobbies activity system. Players can interact with claw machines placed around the city of Hethereau to try their hand at grabbing prizes. The claw machine was specifically called out in the official launch roadmap as a feature receiving improvements before the game's global release on April 29, 2026. As one of the many casual diversions scattered throughout Hethereau's entertainment districts, the claw machine offers a relaxing break from combat and anomaly commissions.
How It Works
The claw machine follows the classic arcade crane game format. Players position a mechanical claw over a prize using directional controls, then press a button to lower the claw and attempt to grab the target item. The claw descends, closes around the prize, and lifts it toward the drop chute. Successfully guiding the prize into the chute adds it to the player's inventory.
Unlike real-world claw machines that are often programmed with variable grip strength, the in-game version rewards player positioning and timing. Each attempt costs a small amount of in-game currency, making it an accessible activity for players at any stage of progression.
Prizes and Rewards
Claw machines dispense a variety of collectibles that tie into Neverness to Everness's broader collection systems. Given the game's emphasis on home decoration and personal expression, the prizes serve as another avenue for players to customize their living spaces and show off unique items.
Prize Category | Description |
|---|---|
Plush Toys | Stuffed versions of characters and creatures from the NTE universe, displayable in the player's housing |
Figurines | Miniature character figures that can be placed on shelves and desks in the player's home |
Cosmetic Accessories | Decorative items such as keychains and phone charms for personalizing the player character's appearance |
Small decorative objects for the housing system, including desk ornaments and wall decorations | |
Rare Exclusives | Limited-availability prizes that rotate on a schedule, encouraging repeat visits to the machines |
Locations
Claw machines can be found in Hethereau's entertainment and commercial districts. They are typically placed near other leisure activities such as Mahjong parlors, rhythm game stations, and street racing starting points. Notable areas where claw machines have been spotted include:
Hankaku Street entertainment district, near the arcade area
Tamamochi Street shopping area, alongside other amusement activities
Various convenience stores and leisure spots throughout Hethereau's commercial zones
Tips and Strategy
While the claw machine is designed as a casual activity, a few strategies can improve your success rate:
Center your aim carefully: Position the claw directly above the center of the prize rather than at its edge. Off-center grabs are more likely to slip during the lift.
Target isolated prizes: Prizes that are not wedged between other items are easier to grab cleanly.
Watch the claw's swing: After positioning, the claw may sway slightly before descending. Time your button press when the claw is steady.
Check the prize rotation: Different machines may stock different prizes on different days. Visit multiple locations to find specific items you want.
Spend wisely: Set a budget for each session. The cost per attempt is low, but repeated tries add up if you are chasing a rare item.
Roadmap Improvements
The launch roadmap published in February 2026 confirmed that the claw machine will be improved alongside other Hethereau Hobbies mini-games. The developers have stated that features like the claw machine will also be improved as part of a broader effort to enhance all hobby activities with better visuals and more variety.
The Hethereau Hobbies system as a whole is receiving several upgrades for launch:
Improvement | Details |
|---|---|
AI Players for Mahjong | Single-player Mahjong matches against AI opponents, removing the need to wait for human players |
AI Racing Opponents | AI competitors for street racing events so players can race at any time |
More Ride-Along Companions | Additional companion characters that can join players during activities |
Visual Upgrades | Improved graphics and animations across all Hethereau Hobbies mini-games |
Matchmaking Improvements | Better multiplayer matchmaking for competitive hobby activities |
Increased Variety | More prize types, machine themes, and seasonal content for all activities including the claw machine |
Related Activities
The claw machine is one of several Hethereau Hobbies available across the city. These activities offer a change of pace from anomaly hunting and provide unique rewards:
Activity | Type | Multiplayer |
|---|---|---|
Claw Machine | Arcade / prize grabbing | Solo |
Tabletop strategy | Multiplayer or AI | |
Vehicle racing | Multiplayer or AI | |
Music / rhythm | Solo | |
Open-world relaxation | Solo | |
Co-op mission | ||
Driving simulation | Solo |
In-City Venue Context
Claw machines are tucked inside the same shop interiors that host other small city amusements in Hethereau. A typical venue groups several leisure fixtures side by side: a claw machine for grabbing plushes and figures, an in-game gacha machine that dispenses furniture and figurine rewards for in-game tickets or Fonds, and a row of ordinary vending machines selling drinks and snacks. The maid cafe area on St. Torres Avenue is one example of this layout, pairing the claw machine with vendors and a hobby table in the same indoor footprint.
Because the fixtures share a footprint, players often drop into a claw machine between other in-city errands. You can walk from a shop counter or a vending machine straight to the claw unit without changing zones, which keeps the activity on the level of a short break rather than a dedicated trip.
The in-shop gacha machine it sits next to is a separate system from the character banner. It lets players spend tickets or Fonds on furniture and figurine rewards that boost the comfort rating of a home, so the claw machine and the gacha machine often complement each other for collectors who are decorating a property.
Coin-Per-Attempt Flow
Each interaction with the machine is a single grab. Players insert coins into the unit, position the claw, commit to one descent, and either leave with the prize or walk away empty-handed. There is no combo mode, timed run, or streak meter; the loop is one coin, one attempt, one outcome.
Insert coins: spend a small amount of in-game currency per try.
Position and drop: line the claw up over the target and commit to the lower.
Single grab: the claw closes, lifts, and either carries the prize to the drop chute or slips.
Repeat or leave: each new attempt costs another coin. Session length is up to the player.
Because every attempt is a standalone transaction, short sessions are fine. Players often take two or three grabs while passing through a shop and continue with other activities, returning later to chase a specific plush or figure.
Plush and Figurine Rewards
The prize pool centers on collectible plush toys and figurines. Cat-themed plushes are a common sight in the machines, fitting the city's pet-friendly, slice-of-life atmosphere. Won items enter the player inventory as placeable collectibles that can be arranged on shelves, desks, or other display surfaces inside owned properties.
Plushes and figurines from the claw machine sit alongside gacha-machine figurine rewards and anomaly furniture as part of the home-decoration loop. Filling a property with these small items raises its comfort rating and visual personality, rewarding players who enjoy building out a space over time.
Free From City Stamina Gating
The claw machine is a casual hobby rather than a progression grind. Unlike activities in the City Tycoon menu that consume city stamina in exchange for progression materials, claw attempts draw only on in-game money. Players can keep grabbing as long as they have coins to spend, even when the daily stamina bar is empty.
That makes the claw machine a natural choice at the end of a play session, after higher-priority stamina activities have already been cleared. Bank-heist runs, truck deliveries, taxi pickups, and other income jobs pay for the coin supply, and the claw machine then becomes a low-pressure way to convert that money into collectibles without touching the stamina economy.
Trivia
Claw machines (also called crane games or UFO catchers) are a staple of Japanese and East Asian arcade culture, which fits Hethereau's urban aesthetic inspired by modern Asian cities.
The claw machine is one of the few Hethereau Hobbies that does not support multiplayer, making it a purely solo leisure activity.
During the Co-Ex Test beta, players noted that the claw machine was functional but limited in prize variety, which prompted the developers to confirm improvements in the launch roadmap.