Arcades are filled with all kinds of fun and exciting games designed to entertain players of all ages. Many arcade games also dispense tickets that can be redeemed for prizes. For prize lovers, knowing which games tend to give out the most tickets can be key to maximizing your haul. Here we will explore some of the top ticket dispensing games you’re likely to find at your local arcade.
Redemption Games
One of the most reliable ways to rack up tickets is to play redemption games. These are games that involve simple gameplay, like dropping a coin to push other coins off a ledge or stopping a light at a jackpot position. The more you accomplish in the game, the more tickets you earn. Some popular redemption games that are known for their ticket payouts include:
- Coin pushers – Drop coins on a platform to push other coins and prizes off the edge
- Stackers – Stack blocks strategically to meet certain point thresholds
- Key master – Use a key to line up with the right opening to unlock prizes
- Clown games – Toss balls or rings into clown mouths or other openings
- Fishing games – Use a magnetic wand to pick up prize capsules from water
These simple games rely more on luck than skill, so they are designed to regularly pay out tickets to keep players engaged. The more you play, the more tickets you’ll accumulate.
Spin and Win Games
Another genre of arcade games that tends to reward high ticket payouts is spin and win games. These involve spinning a wheel, prize ball, or other randomizer and hoping it lands on a high ticket prize. Some examples include:
- Prize wheels – Spin a wheel divided into ticket prize segments
- Cyclone machines – Turn a crank to spin balls around a dome until they fall into ticket slots
- Roll down machines – Roll balls down a maze of Plinko-style pegs leading to ticket slots
The element of chance means these games regularly pay out their highest prizes. With just a bit of luck, you could rack up hundreds or even thousands of tickets in one spin.
Carnival Games
Carnival style games are arcade mainstays, and many of them offer great ticket rewards. These include games like:
- Ring toss – Toss rings onto prize pegs
- Milk bottle toss – Knock over milk bottle stacks with balls
- Basketball shoot – Toss basketballs into hoops
- Water gun races – Shoot water into a target faster than opponents
- Whack-a-mole – Smack pop-up moles with a mallet
While these games do require some skill, they are designed to be fairly easy to win. Better players can expect very generous ticket payouts. Even if your skills are just average, you can still expect to accumulate a good number of tickets per game credit.
Video Redemption Games
Video redemption games combine arcade video gameplay with ticket payouts. These include games like:
- Carnival style shooting games – Shoot moving targets on screen with a pellet gun
- Touch screen games – Play touchscreen minigames for ticket prizes
- Crane games – Maneuver a crane to pick up prizes
- Dance games – Jump and dance on a pad to music
Just like regular video arcade games, these focus on skills. The better you are, the more tickets you’ll earn. Top players can rack up insane amounts of tickets on these machines. Even average players can do quite well, making them solid ticket generators.
Trends in High Payout Games
There are a few key trends among the games that tend to have the highest ticket payouts:
- Simple gameplay – Redemption games with basic, easy-to-understand gameplay tend to have the most generous payouts.
- Elements of chance – Any randomizers like prize wheels or spinning balls means the game has to pay out big prizes regularly.
- Easy to achieve goals – Carnival games and other skill games are designed with easily achievable goals that pay tickets.
- Higher difficulty options – Video redemption games pay out more for hitting higher scores or difficulty levels.
Game manufacturers want players of all ages and skill levels to feel like they can win. Games that pay out the most tickets accomplish this through simple gameplay, frequent jackpots, and achievable goals.
Strategies to Maximize Tickets
Once you know which games tend to pay out the most tickets, you can maximize your haul with these strategies:
- Play redemption games – Simple coin pusher and stacker games should be your first stop.
- Try your luck on spin and win games – Take advantage of the random chance for jackpot tickets.
- Master carnival style games – Hone your skills to clean up on these ticket-rich challenges.
- Learn video redemption games – Become an expert at crane, shooting, or dancing games.
- Target bonuses and jackpots – Look for machines with ticket bonuses and progressive jackpots.
- Watch for refills – Jump on a machine as soon as you see attendants refilling prizes and tickets.
- Play on half price days – Many arcades offer discounts on game credits on certain days.
- Use coin pushers strategically – Drop coins to purposefully push over hung up prizes.
Following these tips, along with some experimentation to find the best payout machines, can help you maximize your ticket earnings over time.
Best Bets for High Ticket Payouts
While every arcade is different, these machines are commonly found to offer some of the highest ticket payouts:
Redemption Games
Key Master | Up to 500+ tickets |
Super Shot Basketball | Up to 500 tickets |
Stacker | Up to 250+ tickets |
Coin Pusher | Up to 200+ tickets |
Milk Jug Toss | Up to 150 tickets |
Spin and Win Games
Prize Wheel | Up to 1,000+ tickets |
Spin N Win | Up to 500 tickets |
Willy Wonka Spin | Up to 400 tickets |
Wizard of Oz Spin | Up to 300+ tickets |
Video Redemption Games
Shooting Hoops | Up to 1,000+ tickets |
Fast and Furious | Up to 800 tickets |
Jurassic Park Shooting | Up to 500 tickets |
Hummer Off Road | Up to 400 tickets |
Harpoon Lagoon | Up to 300 tickets |
Keep in mind that payouts can vary quite a bit even for the same games between different arcades. But these examples showcase the type of potential these machines offer.
Locating the Best Machines
Once you know which games to look for, you’ll want to scout out where to find the best payout machines. Here are some tips:
- Look for newer machines – New games may be programmed for higher payouts to attract players.
- Find poorly trafficked areas – Games in corners or dead zones may have higher odds settings.
- Check near snack bars – Games near food areas see more traffic and can have better payouts.
- Try around redemption centers – Games clustered near redemption centers may have higher payout rates to fuel prizes.
- Search for patterns – Keep an eye out for consistent payout placements like rows of prize wheels.
There’s a combination of skill and luck involved in finding the arcade games primed to pay out the most tickets. But following the tips in this guide puts the odds of a big ticket haul in your favor.
Maximizing Your Winnings
Once you’ve located the machines with the most generous ticket payouts, there are a few final tips to make the most of them:
- Watch the counters – Games indicate how much they’ve paid out since the last collection.
- Time your visits – Try coming right after arcade opening when machines are freshly stocked.
- Learn the cycles – Note when attendants make their collection rounds to maximize fresh games.
- Bring plenty of change – Having lots of coins will allow you to capitalize when you find a hot machine.
- Go on discounted days – Take advantage of specials like free game credits with food purchases.
- Team up on 2-player games – Playing co-op can improve your odds and payouts.
Combining insider knowledge about the highest paying games with smart play strategies gives you an excellent shot at redeeming an epic mountain of arcade tickets.
Conclusion
While every arcade is different, some common trends point toward the highest ticket paying games. Redemption and carnival style games that rely on simple play and frequent payouts are usually solid bets. Spin and win games add an element of chance that can result in especially generous jackpots. Many modern video redemption games also offer huge ticket potential for skilled players. Locating these machines in the right spots and using smart play timing and strategies can lead to massive hauls. With the right approach, you can master the arcade redemption scene and rack up the kinds of huge ticket jackpots that kids dream about.