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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 determine the best first-party game of this hardware cycle. We presented eight PS5 games and eight Xbox Series X games to face off against each other, culminating in a final showdown where the top game from each platform would battle it out. We've witnessed some nail-biting finishes in the initial matchups, 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 ahead of the championship on Thursday.

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 feels like a true upset. But to get to the finals, it'll need to defeat the most valuable player of the PS5 generation: the acclaimed developer. Marvel’s Spider-Man 2 had a smooth path to the final four, leaping past Ghost of Yōtei and Ratchet & Clank: Rift Apart (another title from the same studio!) to land in the semi-finals. Will Spider-Man defeat a home-grown Sony mascot, or is he destined to become a chibi cameo in the upcoming Astro Bot title?

Xbox Series X Contenders

For Xbox Series X has been more exciting. Coming out on top from a diverse lineup of competitors is Forza Horizon 5. It's a significant win for the open-world driving game so far, demonstrating that a more specialized genre game earns to be on the same pedestal as traditional jump-and-run games and story-driven epics. Its last roadblock en route to the finals is a major challenge, though. Indiana Jones and the Great Circle has proven to be a fan favorite, beating acclaimed titles like Pentiment and Hi-Fi Rush. Will it overcome a larger-scale title from an established IP that's synonymous with the Xbox brand? Should anyone manage this feat, it's probably Indy.

Cast your votes to decide 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!

Voting Schedule

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

Head-to-Head Battles

PlayStation 5 Bracket

Astro Bot versus Marvel’s Spider-Man 2

Xbox Series X Division

Forza Horizon 5 versus Indiana Jones and the Great Circle

Cast Your Votes