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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 PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X with a tournament to determine the best first-party game of this console generation. We presented eight PS5 games and eight Xbox Series X exclusives to compete against each other, all heading towards a championship round where the leading contender from each console would battle it out. There have been some nail-biting finishes in the initial matchups, particularly 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. Perhaps it's expected considering that it won top honors at last year’s Game Awards, but its win against God of War Ragnarök seems like a major shock. However, to reach the championship, it'll have to go through the MVP of the PlayStation 5 era: the acclaimed developer. Marvel’s Spider-Man 2 enjoyed an easy journey to the semi-finals, leaping past Ghost of Yōtei and Ratchet & Clank: Rift Apart (another title from the same studio!) to secure a spot in the final four. Can Spidey topple a home-grown Sony mascot, 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 significant win for the open-world driving game already, 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 final obstacle en route to the championship is a major challenge, though. Indiana Jones and the Great Circle has shown itself as a fan favorite, defeating acclaimed titles like Pentiment and Hi-Fi Rush. Can it beat a much bigger game from an established IP that's synonymous with Xbox itself? Should anyone manage this feat, it's probably Indy.

Place your ballots to determine the best PS5 and Xbox Series X games of this generation, and return on the next day 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 - Tuesday, Nov. 11 at 9 a.m. EST
• Quarter-finals: 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
• 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

PS5 Division

Astro Bot versus Marvel’s Spider-Man 2

Xbox Series X Bracket

Forza Horizon 5 vs. Indiana Jones and the Great Circle

Make Your Choice