After making waves with the original Dark Waters Power Combo, Just For The Win is back with a deeper, sharper sequel that doubles down on what made the first game a hit. Dark Waters 2 Power Combo doesn’t just revisit familiar territory, it expands it with upgraded features, leveled-up Free Spins, and a fresh sense of momentum. And at the helm of it all is Johan Persson, CEO and Co-Founder of Just For The Win, a studio known for striking a balance between polish, fun, and mechanical depth.
In this exclusive Bigwinboard interview, Johan reflects on the evolution of the Dark Waters series, shares insights on the creative decisions behind the new release, and offers a glimpse into what players can expect from Just For The Win in the near future.
Bigwinboard (Daniel): Let’s start with the most important question first. Exactly what is it that makes Dark Waters 2 Power Combo™ stand out in today’s crowded slot landscape?
Johan Persson: The first Dark Waters Power Combo game hit the sweet spot, both mechanically and visually, and we knew we had something that players genuinely loved to play. Because of this we felt we wanted to create something even more immersive when it came to the sequel and dive even deeper into this world.
We focused our efforts on evolving what already worked, namely the Power Combo system and its added intensity, to create an even better player experience. The biggest difference between the original title and the sequel is the new collection structure. Each of the three features now levels up over time, adding more depth and variation to the Free Spins. All in all, it’s familiar, but sharper. Dark Waters 2 Power Combo offers bigger potential wins, stronger momentum, and a more rewarding journey overall.
Bigwinboard (Daniel): In terms of the story, how does Dark Waters 2 Power Combo build upon the original release?
Johan Persson: We made sure we retained all of the elements that made the first game so popular amongst players. The dark, mysterious setting and the signature Power Combo features, but this time we took it a step further.
In Dark Waters 2 Power Combo, the features can now be upgraded across four levels and can still be combined as was the case before. This adds a real sense of engagement into the gameplay. Players aren’t simply looking to trigger a feature, but they’re building towards something potentially big. It’s a continuation, not a reinvention, but with a lot more to look forward to.
Bigwinboard (Daniel): What kind of player experience were you aiming to create with the art, music, and overall design of the game?
Johan Persson: We set out to give this release more atmosphere, a greater sense of adventure, and a bit more edge. The visuals are sharper, the animations are more dynamic, and the audio has been tuned to better support the upgrade and tension in the gameplay. It still feels like Dark Waters Power Combo, but with a little more weight and presence behind every spin.
Bigwinboard (Daniel): The game introduces a multi-layered Free Spins feature through Power Combo mechanics. Can you break down how the progression system works and what kind of player experience it creates?
Johan Persson: Each of the three Power Combo features, Giant Reels, Stack Collect, and Golden Reels, can be upgraded through four levels in the base game by collecting diamond tokens.
When one of the feature tokens lands, there’s a chance it triggers Free Spins for that feature at its current level. If two or all three tokens land and they get activated together, you bring them all into the bonus round at once. The more features you trigger, and the higher their levels, the bigger the potential and variety.
Players can also retrigger +3 Free Spins during the bonus, either by landing a new feature token or by hitting an already active one. It adds momentum and enhances the gameplay.
Bigwinboard (Daniel): One standout feature is the Giant Reels, opening up 262,144 ways to win. What was the thinking behind such an expansive mechanic, and how does it change gameplay?
Johan Persson: Honestly? We absolutely love the way it looks and that was a big part of our decision to add this mechanic to the game. We wanted players to feel a clear visual and mechanical shift when the Giant Reels level up. Going from a standard 6×4 layout to 6×8 with 262,144 ways to win, it makes a statement. It signals that something potentially big is happening. The Giant Reels are simple to understand and follow, but they add weight to the gameplay. You’re not just unlocking a feature, you’re transforming the game space.
Bigwinboard (Daniel): Can you walk us through the new Buy Feature in Dark Waters 2 Power Combo and what motivated the decision to add it to the game?
Johan Persson: The Buy Feature (where available) is built around giving players more options. Instead of a single option, we created the Diamond Menu, a set of clearly defined choices where you know exactly what you’re getting. Whether it’s a Coin Burst spin, one to three Kraken’s Choice features, or the full Kraken Power Combo at max level, there’s no guesswork.
Using the Buy Feature doesn’t affect your gameplay. That was key for us. We wanted players to have the freedom to jump into the action, but without skipping the core experience of building up features through regular gameplay.
Bigwinboard (Daniel): Looking at the Just For The Win brand from a wider perspective, what would you say the company’s ethos is, where do you see the future heading, and why should players choose your content over others when there’s so much choice out there?
Johan Persson: It’s a tough question, and a good one. We’re a small studio, and at the end of the day, we try to make games we believe players will enjoy and that we’re passionate about. That’s really the core of it. With so many games out there, it’s hard to stand out, so we focus on building a balanced portfolio. Something consistent enough that players know what to expect, but still fresh enough to keep them choosing our content.
We do try new things, and we keep our ears close to the community. If there’s one thing we want to be known for, it’s delivering solid, well-built games that respect the player’s time and attention.
Bigwinboard (Daniel): And finally, can you give us an insight into what’s coming in the not-so-distant future from Just For The Win?
Johan Persson: We’ve got something new in the works, something we haven’t done before, which is exciting for us as a team. We’re also working on titles that build on what’s worked well in the past, but with new twists and ideas to keep things fresh. As always, the goal is to stay true to what players enjoy while still evolving with each release.
