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The past two days have been nothing short of dramatic. This past Monday, we marked the half-decade milestone of the PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X with a tournament to decide the best first-party game of this hardware cycle. We presented eight PS5 games and eight Xbox Series X games to compete against each other, culminating in a final showdown where the leading contender from each console would go head-to-head. We've witnessed some nail-biting finishes in the initial matchups, particularly yesterday’s razor-thin votes. At this point, it's time to crown the best PS5 and Xbox Series X games before Thursday’s final battle.

PlayStation 5 Contenders

On the PS5 side, we have the Kratos-killer, Astro Bot. Maybe it should be no surprise given that it won top honors at the previous year's gaming accolades, but its victory over God of War Ragnarök seems like a major shock. However, to reach the championship, it'll need to defeat the MVP of the PS5 generation: Insomniac Games. Marvel’s Spider-Man 2 enjoyed an easy journey to the final four, defeating Ghost of Yōtei and Ratchet & Clank: Rift Apart (another Insomniac game!) to secure a spot in the semi-finals. Can Spidey topple a beloved PlayStation icon, or is he destined to become a miniature appearance in the next Astro Bot game?

The Xbox Series X Side

The Xbox Series X side has been even juicier. Emerging victorious from a more eclectic field of contenders is Forza Horizon 5. It's a big victory for the open-world driving game so far, proving that a niche category title deserves to be on the equal footing as traditional jump-and-run games and story-driven epics. Its last roadblock en route to the championship is a major challenge, though. Indiana Jones and the Great Circle has shown itself as a fan favorite, beating acclaimed titles like Pentiment and Hi-Fi Rush. Will it overcome a larger-scale title from an well-known franchise that's synonymous with Xbox itself? If anyone can pull that off, it's likely Indiana Jones.

Cast your votes to determine the best PS5 and Xbox Series X games of this era, and return on the next day to see which games will face off for the ultimate trophy in the finals!

Polling Timeline

• First Round: Monday, Nov. 10 at 11 a.m. EST - November 11, 9:00 AM Eastern
• Quarter-finals: November 11, 11:00 AM Eastern - November 12, 9:00 AM Eastern
• Semi-final round: Wednesday, Nov. 12 at 11 a.m. ET - Thursday, Nov. 13 at 9 a.m. EST
• Final round: Thursday, Nov. 13 at 11 a.m. EST - Friday, Nov. 14 at 9 a.m. EST
• 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 Division

Forza Horizon 5 vs. Indiana Jones and the Great Circle

Make Your Choice