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The past two days have been incredibly eventful. This past Monday, we marked the half-decade milestone of the PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X with a tournament to determine the best first-party game of this hardware cycle. You were given eight PlayStation 5 titles and eight Xbox Series X games to compete against each other, all heading towards a championship round where the top game from each console would go head-to-head. We've witnessed some nail-biting finishes in the first two rounds, especially the extremely tight polls from the previous day. At this point, it's time to crown the best PS5 and Xbox Series X games before the championship on Thursday.

PlayStation 5 Contenders

For PlayStation 5, we have the Kratos-killer, Astro Bot. Maybe it should be no surprise considering that it took home the top prize at the previous year's gaming accolades, but its victory over God of War Ragnarök feels like a true upset. However, to reach the championship, it'll have to go through the MVP of the PS5 generation: Insomniac Games. Marvel’s Spider-Man 2 had a smooth path to the semi-finals, defeating Ghost of Yōtei and Ratchet & Clank: Rift Apart (another Insomniac game!) to secure a spot in the final four. Will Spider-Man defeat a home-grown Sony mascot, or is he destined to become a miniature appearance in the upcoming Astro Bot title?

The Xbox Series X Side

For Xbox Series X has been even juicier. Emerging victorious from a more eclectic field of contenders 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 equal footing as traditional jump-and-run games and cinematic action-adventure games. Its final obstacle en route to the championship is a big one, though. Indiana Jones and the Great Circle has shown itself as a fan favorite, defeating critical darlings like Pentiment and Hi-Fi Rush. Will it overcome a larger-scale title from an well-known franchise that's closely tied to the Xbox brand? Should anyone manage this feat, it's likely Indiana Jones.

Place your ballots to determine the best PS5 and Xbox Series X games of this generation, and come back tomorrow to see which games will face off for the ultimate trophy in the finals!

Polling Timeline

• Round of 16: Monday, Nov. 10 at 11 a.m. EST - November 11, 9:00 AM Eastern
• Quarter-finals: Tuesday, Nov. 11 at 11 a.m. EST - Wednesday, Nov. 12 at 9 a.m. EST
• Final Four: 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 - November 14, 9:00 AM Eastern
• Winner announced: 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 versus Indiana Jones and the Great Circle

Make Your Choice