Bullshark Games Slots Q&A with Andre Villandberg

Founded in 2023, Bullshark Games is an up-and-coming slot game provider that has a ‘From Players to Players’ mantra. Available at an increasing number of UK slot sites, they have 13 slots currently available with more on the way in 2025.

Bullshark Games slots use the OpenGRS platform by Hacksaw Gaming meaning the buttons, layout and interface is familiar.

The exclusive Q&A is with the founder, Andre Villandberg, who has extensive experience in the online gaming industry. We discussed the company’s journey, how new slot games are created, the difference compared to other studios, their most popular titles, the brand-new Coop Clash slot and what to expect in the future.

Q: Can you tell us a little about Bullshark Games and its journey since it was founded?

AV: “I’ve known for years that I wanted to run my own business—not just follow what others were doing, but truly bring something fresh to the industry. That vision became reality with the launch of Bullshark Games, and our first game, Mafia Clash, which was released in November 2023. It’s been quite a ride since then!

In just a short time, we’ve released 13 games, and by the end of 2025, our portfolio is set to double. Our goal is to continuously capture players’ attention by introducing new and exciting mechanics, rather than simply reusing existing formulas.

We’ve experimented with Cluster Pays in games like Piggy Cluster Hunt, Junkyard Kings (which is my personal favourite in terms of mechanics—I’ve hit a max win and multiple 5000x+ hits in production), and our latest release, Coop Clash. We’ve also explored Scatter Pays with Merlin’s Alchemy and Merlin’s Mania, as well as cascading line pays in Jawsome Pirates and Pickle Bandits, among others.

At Bullshark Games, we’re passionate about innovation. Whether it’s through unique features, high player anticipation, or thrilling win potential, we want every release to feel fresh and exciting, keeping players engaged and always eager for more.”

Q: What % of players play on mobile vs desktop/ tablet devices? Has this influenced your design in any way?

AV: “I can’t give you an exact number at the moment, but there are definitely more mobile players than desktop players. We always keep this in mind when designing our games.

Fortunately, this hasn’t significantly impacted our creative ideas, but there are times when mobile optimization can be a limiting factor.”

Q: How are new slot games created? What’s your specific process and how does it differ from other studios?

AV: “At Bullshark Games, we approach slot development with a player-first mindset, ensuring that every game offers something fresh and exciting. Our process is heavily driven by our own passion for gambling—we create games that we would genuinely want to play ourselves.

The journey starts with brainstorming new mechanics. We don’t believe in simply re-skinning existing games; every new release must introduce something unique. Sometimes this means refining an existing feature in a way that hasn’t been done before, while other times, it means completely experimenting with new mechanics. For example, we’ve explored cluster mechanics (Piggy Cluster Hunt, Junkyard Kings, Coop Clash), scatter pays (Merlin’s Alchemy, Merlin’s Mania), and cascading line pays (Jawsome Pirates, Pickle Bandits).

One of the key differences in our approach is extensive real-world testing. I personally spin our games 10,000–20,000 times before release and continue playing in production to ensure everything feels right. Sometimes, the feel of a game in production is different from how it was during development, so this process allows us to fine-tune mechanics and make improvements to upcoming games.

We also place high value on player feedback. We closely monitor comments on review sites and social media to understand what players love, or dislike, about our games.

At Bullshark Games, our goal is to create experiences that keep players coming back. Whether it’s the thrill of a last-spin comeback, the anticipation of a big win from anywhere, or just the excitement of something new, we want every release to feel like an event. And most importantly, we always ask ourselves: Would we play this game for real money? The answer should always be yes.”

Q: How does Bullshark Games plan to distinguish itself from other slot providers? Are there any mechanics you’ve created?

AV: “At Bullshark Games, we always aim to add a unique twist—whether it’s through innovative mechanics or unexpected themes. For example, in Pickle Bandits, we introduced a pickle sheriff, and in Piggy Cluster Hunt, we created a pig hunting from his porch—adding a fun and quirky element that sets our games apart.

Mechanically, we have made multiple games that focus on activator mechanics, which aren’t commonly used by many slot providers. These features create an extra layer of anticipation and excitement for players, and so far, they’ve worked very well for us. A great example of this is in Wild Dojo Strike and Jawsome Pirates, where these mechanics add a thrilling dynamic to the gameplay.

Ultimately, our goal is to ensure that every Bullshark Games release feels fresh and engaging, keeping players excited to see what’s coming next.”

Q: What are Bullshark Games’ most popular slot games? Are there any that are particularly popular in the UK?

AV: “Our most popular games include Junkyard Kings, known for its grid multiplier and walking wilds mechanics, and Pickle Bandits, which features a growing global multiplier combined with cascading reels—allowing spins to last longer while building up bigger wins.

Jawsome Pirates has also been a standout title, thanks to its treasure chest feature, and one of our newer releases, Valhalla: Wild Winter, has performed exceptionally well with its wild collection mechanic.

Overall, we’ve been well received in the UK market, with Wild Dojo Strike and Holy Heist standing out as fan favourites alongside our best-performing games.”

Q: Can you tell us more about your latest release Coop Clash, and what makes it stand out against other titles?

AV: “In Coop Clash, we’ve combined cascading Cluster Pays mechanics with moving wilds that increase their multiplier with every win. This means that if the right circumstances align, a single spin has the potential to hit the maximum win at any time, adding an extra layer of anticipation and excitement for players.”

Q: Do you have a particular favourite slot from Bullshark Games? If so, why?

AV: “My personal favourite is one that players seem to love as well, Junkyard Kings! It’s a highly volatile slot, but when you land multiple walking, doubling rats during the free spins feature, the excitement builds with every cascade.

I’ve even hit a max win on it in production, along with multiple 5000x+ wins, which only adds to my appreciation for the game!”

Q: What else can we expect from Bullshark Games in 2025? Can you give us an insight into upcoming releases?

AV: “2025 is set to be even more exciting than 2024. Now that we’ve released a solid line-up of games, gained valuable experience, and a better understanding of what players do and don’t enjoy. With this insight, we’re confident that our upcoming releases will be even better than before.

We also feel that we might have a Game of the Year contender in the works, but let’s see if we can get it just right.

There are plenty of exciting games on the horizon, including Clover Club in March, featuring a simple yet highly engaging multiplier mechanic, making it a perfect fit for St. Patrick’s Day promotions. Then there’s Ancient Paws, which introduces moving wilds, and Age of Seth, which we believe could be one of our best releases ever.

And, of course, we’ll be introducing brand-new and exciting mechanics in our May and June releases. Stay tuned!”

https://www.olbg.com/blogs/andre-villandberg