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The past two days have been incredibly eventful. This past Monday, we marked the five-year anniversary of the PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X with a competition to determine the best first-party game of this console generation. We presented eight PS5 games and eight Xbox Series X exclusives to face off against each other, all heading towards a final showdown where the leading contender from each console would battle it out. We've witnessed some nail-biting finishes in the initial matchups, particularly the extremely tight polls from the previous day. Now, it's moment to decide the best PS5 and Xbox Series X games before Thursday’s final battle.

The PS5 Side

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 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 need to defeat the most valuable player of the PlayStation 5 era: the acclaimed developer. Marvel’s Spider-Man 2 had a smooth path to the semi-finals, defeating Ghost of Yōtei and Ratchet & Clank: Rift Apart (another title from the same studio!) 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?

Xbox Series X Contenders

The Xbox Series X side has been even juicier. 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 already, proving that a niche category title deserves to be on the same pedestal as classic platformers and cinematic action-adventure games. Its last roadblock on the way to the finals is a big one, though. Indiana Jones and the Great Circle has proven to be a crowd favorite, beating acclaimed titles like Pentiment and Hi-Fi Rush. Will it overcome a much bigger game from an established IP that's synonymous with the Xbox brand? Should anyone manage this feat, it's probably Indy.

Place your ballots to determine the top PlayStation and Xbox titles of this era, and return on the next day to see who will be competing for the grand prize in the championship round!

Polling Timeline

• 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 - November 12, 9:00 AM Eastern
• Final Four: Wednesday, Nov. 12 at 11 a.m. ET - November 13, 9:00 AM Eastern
• Final round: Thursday, Nov. 13 at 11 a.m. EST - November 14, 9:00 AM Eastern
• 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 vs. Indiana Jones and the Great Circle

Make Your Choice