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These last 48 hours have been nothing short of dramatic. This past Monday, we marked the five-year anniversary of the PS5 and Xbox Series X consoles with a tournament to decide the best first-party game of this hardware cycle. We presented eight PlayStation 5 titles and eight Xbox Series X games to face off against each other, all heading towards a final showdown where the top game from each platform would battle it out. There have been some nail-biting finishes in the initial matchups, especially the extremely tight polls from the previous day. Now, it's time to crown the best PS5 and Xbox Series X games ahead of Thursday’s final battle.

The PS5 Side

On the PS5 side, we have the giant-slayer, Astro Bot. Maybe it should be no surprise given that it took home the top prize at the previous year's gaming accolades, but its win against God of War Ragnarök feels like a true upset. However, to reach the championship, it'll need to defeat the most valuable player of the PS5 generation: Insomniac Games. Marvel’s Spider-Man 2 had a smooth path to the final four, defeating Ghost of Yōtei and Ratchet & Clank: Rift Apart (another title from the same studio!) to secure a spot in the semi-finals. Can Spidey topple a beloved PlayStation icon, or is he fated to become a chibi cameo in the upcoming Astro Bot title?

Xbox Series X Contenders

The Xbox Series X side has been even juicier. Coming out on top from a more eclectic field of competitors is Forza Horizon 5. It's a big victory for the racing adventure title already, proving that a niche category title deserves to be on the same pedestal as traditional jump-and-run games and cinematic action-adventure games. Its last roadblock en route to the championship is a major challenge, though. Indiana Jones and the Great Circle has proven to be a fan favorite, beating critical darlings like Pentiment and Hi-Fi Rush. Will it overcome a much bigger game from an well-known franchise that's synonymous with Xbox itself? Should anyone manage this feat, it's likely Indiana Jones.

Place your ballots to decide the top PlayStation and Xbox titles of this generation, and return on the next day to see which games will face off for the grand prize in the championship round!

Voting Schedule

• Round of 16: Monday, Nov. 10 at 11 a.m. EST - Tuesday, Nov. 11 at 9 a.m. EST
• Round of 8: November 11, 11:00 AM Eastern - Wednesday, Nov. 12 at 9 a.m. EST
• Final Four: November 12, 11:00 AM Eastern - November 13, 9:00 AM Eastern
• Championship: Thursday, Nov. 13 at 11 a.m. EST - November 14, 9:00 AM Eastern
• Champion crowned: Friday, Nov. 14 at 11 a.m. EST

Matchups

PlayStation 5 Bracket

Astro Bot versus Marvel’s Spider-Man 2

Xbox Series X Bracket

Forza Horizon 5 vs. Indiana Jones and the Great Circle

Cast Your Votes