In an electronic gaming device, a linked reel strip mechanism uses one or more data structures for multiple reel strips of a reel strip group. Each of the reel strips is logically linked, in the data structure(s), with one or more other reel strips of the reel strip group. User input is received that indicates a start to a re-spin series, and the linked reel strip mechanism is initialized. As part of backend processing, in each of one or more iterations of the re-spin series, for a current reel strip selected by traversing the data structure(s), a spin result is determined for a spin that uses the current reel strip, and an outcome associated with the spin result is determined. In corresponding frontend processing, the current reel strip is displayed as spinning in a reel area on a display screen, and an indicator of the outcome is displayed.