This strategy guide will focus on the Mega Stacker ticket redemption arcade game, usually found at Dave and Buster’s. But the tips and tricks explained below can be used for all variations of the stacker prize machines.
It seems like the stacker games are rigged against you. Well….they are. They have a rigged payout system similar to claw machines.
Though, there is always a chance to win, even if the odds are “stacked” against you. Read further for helpful tips and information on the stacker machines so that you have the best shot to beat them.
Mega Stacker Arcade Game Information
The settings on the Mega Stacker can change based on arcade location. Difficulty settings, price, and prizes will vary.
Dave and Buster’s Chip Price: 6.8 chips per play.
Your objective in Mega Stacker is to stack blocks on top of each other as they move left and right on the screen.
You start with three blocks. As you progress you will need to stack just one as it moves increasingly faster.
If you reach the minor prize height, you may stop to get that prize. Otherwise you can decide to continue stacking higher to reach the major prize.
Major Prize: Jackpot amount keeps rising every lost play; starts at 1000 tickets.
For the other stacker prize machines this will be a gaming console, iPad, or something similarly priced.
Minor Prize or Ticket Level: 200 tickets.
Are the Stacker Games Rigged?
Mostly yes…
The original game’s operator manual says that the arcade machines are “100% a game of skill and although it is very difficult, every game played can be a winning game.”
So this means that you can technically win every time you play. But let’s dive into the manual some more to see how they intentionally increase the difficulty to an almost impossible level.
The original stacker arcade game manual is not currently available online. We need to use the Wayback Machine to see it.
The manual has a payout adjustment section. It recommends certain payout settings for “maximum earnings.” This is “maximum earnings” for the owner of the machine, not the player.
The owner obviously needs to make money from the stacker machine.
The game changes its difficulty settings based on how much money was spent on it. Once it hits a payout amount it decreases the difficulty to make it more possible to win.
The recommended settings to win the major prize is 1 win out of every 400 plays.
The game is rigged against the player when it is not ready to payout by speeding up the block just as it is over the stack. It looks like it is the same speed but you will need inhuman reaction time or luck to hit the major prize line.
There is a chance of winning when the machine is not ready to payout, but that chance is incredibly small.
This rigged speeding block trick does not occur once the machine has enough plays to give a major prize.
Tips and Tricks to Beat the Stacker Arcade Game
Tip #1: Stack the blocks on the side of the screen; not in the center
When the blocks travel from side to side, they will go offscreen for a certain amount of time. This amount of time purposely changes every time it bounces offscreen. The stacker machines do this to throw off your timing.
To help with this varied timing, choose one side to stack the blocks, either the right or left. This will give you the most time that the blocks are on screen after the blocks go offscreen.
Stacking in the center makes it harder on you because it gives you the least time to adjust for the tricky bounce back time.
Tip #2: Try to guess the time when the stacker machine is ready to payout
Of course you will never know exactly when this time is. You can do your best at finding the right time by watching other people play.
If you have seen a lot of people play and not get the major prize, then you can assume that the game is closer to having the easier difficulty settings.
If you play yourself and notice the block skipping over on the “Major Prize” line then you can verify that the game is not ready to payout. Wait a while longer to play to have a better chance that the Stacker game is ready to payout a jackpot.
Tip #3: Do not listen to the music
The music tries to throw off the right timing to stack.
The music is initially on beat with the movement of the blocks. But as you progress higher, the music will become off beat to try to mess up your timing.
Wear headphones and only pay attention to the movement that you see.
Tip #4: Practice
This is my tip for any skill-based arcade game. You will not be an expert on your first attempt. Play a bunch of times to help your hand-eye coordination and timing.
Stacker Arcade Game Review Score
Score is out of 10, with 1 being all luck to win and 10 being all skill.
Skill Rating: 3
It seems like all the stacker games should be 100% skill. That is not the case with the previously mentioned rigged system on these machines.
It still takes a lot of skill to time your button presses. Even if the stacker machine is ready to payout you still need to perform well enough to stack the blocks to the major prize, which is pretty difficult.
You cannot control or see when these rigged settings are happening. This is where luck comes into play. Different times when you play the machine will affect your chance of winning.
Fun Rating: 6
Despite Mega Stacker being rigged, it is still a blast to play.
The choice of skipping the minor prize to go for the big jackpot is a brilliant way to get you super excited, focused, and stressed so that you can make your decision to skip worth it.
The stacker machines are made to be big and showy to attract people to play it.
I hope you enjoy playing Mega Stacker at the arcade with this new knowledge.
The tips included can give you an advantage at beating the game and winning the major prize. Also keep in mind that there is no way to guarantee a win.
Try your best and continue to improve. Have fun and be nice no matter the outcome of your trip to the arcade.
Save Money Playing Mega Stacker at Dave and Buster’s
Follow the 11 tips provided to purchase chips for cheaper. From Half-off Wednesday to Dave and Buster’s gift cards and rewards. I am sure you will find surprising ways to save a little bit of cash.
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