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These last 48 hours have been incredibly eventful. On Monday, we marked the half-decade milestone 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, culminating in a final showdown where the leading contender from each platform would battle it out. We've witnessed some nail-biting finishes in the first two rounds, particularly the extremely tight polls from the previous day. Now, it's moment to decide 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 given that it took home the top prize at last year’s Game Awards, but its victory over God of War Ragnarök seems like a major shock. 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 final four, defeating Ghost of Yōtei and Ratchet & Clank: Rift Apart (another Insomniac game!) to secure a spot in the semi-finals. Will Spider-Man defeat a beloved PlayStation icon, or is he destined to become a miniature appearance in the next Astro Bot game?

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, proving that a niche category title earns to be on the equal footing 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, defeating acclaimed titles like Pentiment and Hi-Fi Rush. Can it beat a much bigger game 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 top PlayStation and Xbox titles 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

• Round of 16: Monday, Nov. 10 at 11 a.m. EST - November 11, 9:00 AM Eastern
• Round of 8: November 11, 11:00 AM Eastern - Wednesday, Nov. 12 at 9 a.m. EST
• Semi-final round: Wednesday, Nov. 12 at 11 a.m. ET - Thursday, Nov. 13 at 9 a.m. EST
• Final round: November 13, 11:00 AM Eastern - November 14, 9:00 AM Eastern
• Winner announced: November 14, 11:00 AM Eastern

Matchups

PlayStation 5 Bracket

Astro Bot vs. Marvel’s Spider-Man 2

Xbox Series X Division

Forza Horizon 5 vs. Indiana Jones and the Great Circle

Cast Your Votes