Gearlock
About this game
Crack intricate brass mechanical locks by aligning every chained gear to its target digit. Tap the directional arrows or click either side of a gear (or use number keys 1-6) to turn cogs forward and backward. Master the causal ripple effects across linked gears to open each safe within par moves and earn a perfect three-star rating.
Controls
- Turn a gear
- Tap ▲ (right side) to turn it +1, ▼ (left side) to turn it −1
- Keyboard
- Keys 1–6 turn that gear +1; hold Shift for −1
- Undo / reset
- ↶ Undo (or Backspace) and ⟲ Reset at the bottom
- Hint
- 💡 shows the best next move
How to play
Every gear shows a digit from 0 to 9, and above it the digit it needs to show. Set every gear to its target and the lock opens. Digits wrap around, so turning 9 up gives 0.
The catch is the chains. An arrow from one gear to another means that whenever you turn the first gear, the second turns too, by the amount on the arrow: +1 turns it the same way, −1 the opposite way, +2 twice as far. Chains only push in the direction of the arrow, and one gear can drive several others. Fixing one digit usually breaks another, so you have to plan the order of your moves.
Par and stars
Every lock has a par: the fewest moves that can possibly solve it, calculated exactly by the game. Solve it in par for 3 stars, within two extra moves for 2 stars, otherwise 1. A perfect solve also earns a hint. Your total stars go on the global leaderboard.
Endless locks and the daily puzzle
Locks get harder as you go: more gears, more chains, and stranger links like −2, +3 and +5 that wrap around in surprising ways. The Daily lock is the same puzzle for everyone, so you can compare your move count with friends.
Tips
- Look for gears that nothing points at: only you can turn them, so they're the easiest to fix last.
- Gears that drive others are best fixed first; their chain side effects can be cleaned up afterwards.
- Turning a gear the other way is often shorter: −3 is the same as +7.
- Stuck? Undo freely. Only your final move count matters for stars.
Published October 6, 2026