Gear Shifters is a co-op game where players work together to win. The time machine (represented on the board) houses a pattern, which is inputted randomly before starting the game. A second pattern is then presented: this is the one the players will have to achieve to win the game.

The team of players is composed by eight possible roles which might come useful in this sort of expedition: an archeologist, a collector, an engineer, an inventor, a scientist, and a thief. Up to four players may pick any of the roles, each with its own ability to either advantage or hold the team back.