Bullshark Games has dusted off one of slots’ most underrated mechanics and given it a proper modern makeover. Gearlab Genius, the Hacksaw Gaming subsidiary’s latest release, takes the synced reels concept that dominated around 2010 and layers it with multipliers, wild transformations, and enough winning potential to remind players why this mechanic deserves a second life.

A Workshop Built for Winners

The game’s steampunk setting isn’t just window dressing. There’s something fitting about an inventor’s laboratory as the backdrop for what Bullshark has actually engineered here. You’re looking at a 5×4 grid with 1,024 ways to win, which already sets expectations fairly high before the features even kick in.

The synced reels mechanic forms the foundation, but Bullshark has done something genuinely clever. Rather than simply matching symbols across reels, the feature now triggers multipliers that stack up to 100x, transforms entire reels into wilds, and chains winning combinations across multiple multiplier reels. It’s the kind of layering that rewards both casual spins and attentive play.

Three Features, One Solid Design

What stops Gearlab Genius from becoming feature-bloat is restraint. The developers stuck to three core mechanics available in both the base game and bonus rounds:

  • Synced Reels that lock matching symbols into place before spin completion
  • Super Reels that convert an entire reel into wild symbols
  • Reel Multipliers ranging from 2x to 100x, with values combining when multiple reels are hit

The maximum potential here sits at 10,000x stake, with spins ranging from £0.10 to £100. At medium volatility with a 96.28% RTP, it’s positioned for regular payouts without sacrificing ceiling potential.

Modern Take on a Forgotten Favourite

There’s been plenty of commentary lately about whether the industry has ditched genuinely good mechanics in pursuit of novelty. Gearlab Genius pushes back on that narrative. Synced reels never really worked in 2010 because the maths and feature design simply weren’t there yet. Now they are.

Bullshark has managed something increasingly rare: take an established concept and improve it meaningfully without making the game harder to understand. The bonus buy options and two separate bonus games add value for operators and variety for players without complicating what should be straightforward. That’s the real skill here.

It’s the kind of release that reminds you why some mechanics stick around.