The SBC Awards Americas is heading to Fort Lauderdale next month, and with over 600 industry figures already booked in for the June 10 event, the pressure’s on for developers hoping to land gaming’s biggest prize. The shortlist for Game of the Year has just dropped, and it’s a proper lineup that spans everything from hellish underworlds to Greek mythology and haunted seas.

Devil Fire 2: Chaotic Underworld Charm

TaDa Gaming’s Devil Fire 2 leads with real style. Rather than coasting on the original’s success, the Taiwanese studio went back to the drawing board with completely new mechanics and sharper graphics all round, though they kept that mischievous demonic soundtrack intact.

The sequel plays on a 5-reel, 3-row grid with 40 fixed paylines. You’re looking at a solid 97.16% RTP and a genuinely impressive 14,000x max win. What’ll catch the judges’ attention is the mechanical depth: devil twins, bonus coins, four fixed jackpots, and hold-and-spin-style action all feed into a playful yet intense underworld experience. Bet range runs $0.20 to $200, making it accessible across the board.

Fortune of Olympus: Zeus Reimagined

Pragmatic Play‘s reimagining of the Gates of Olympus franchise has already won them the Best Casino Game gong at the 2025 WowAwards. Momentum’s definitely on their side. Fortune of Olympus ups the Greek mythology ante considerably with a 7×7 cluster-pays grid and a 96.55% RTP.

High volatility gameplay combines cascading tumbles, escalating multipliers, and special bets to deliver what the trade’s calling “god-tier moments”. With a 10,000x max win and bet range from $0.20 to $240, this one’s built for drama. The stacking multipliers and explosive clusters genuinely deliver those life-changing win sequences judges tend to value.

Dark Waters 2 Power Combo: Haunted Seas Redux

Just for the Win’s Dark Waters 2 Power Combo takes the award-winning original and dives deeper into pirate-infested, ghost-laden waters. Made exclusively for Games Global, this high volatility sequel lands on a six-reel grid with up to 262,144 ways to win.

The real hero here is the boosted Power Combo system. Players upgrade the stack collector, giant and golden reels through diamond tokens in the base game, carrying the mechanic seamlessly into free spins. Expanding reels, multiplier wilds, and a Kraken feature that unleashes genuine chaos. There’s real mechanical depth wrapped in a moody, premium atmosphere. The 96% RTP and solid win potential make this one properly rewarding to play.

What Judges Will Be Looking For

Each contender brings something distinct to the table. Devil Fire 2 excels in playful mechanical innovation. Fortune of Olympus delivers high-stakes drama and visual spectacle. Dark Waters 2 combines atmospheric depth with feature richness. The judges in Fort Lauderdale will be weighing innovation, player experience, technical execution, and that indefinable quality that makes a game genuinely stand out in a crowded market.

The SBC Awards Americas takes place on June 10 at the Broward County Convention Center. With 34 categories across the board, Game of the Year remains the crown jewel of recognition in the industry.

What the team thinks

Baz Hartley says:

Look, the SBC Awards shortlist always gets the glamour treatment, but what I’d like to see is some real transparency about whether these Game of the Year contenders actually deliver value to players or just dazzle with flashy mechanics and production budgets. Devil Fire 2 sounds visually impressive, but the industry awards circuit rarely digs into the gritty details that matter to punters: RTP rates, volatility profiles, and whether those bonus features are genuinely rewarding or just marketing window dressing. It’d be refreshing if Carl’s coverage went beyond the hype and asked the hard questions about player experience alongside the industry accolades.