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These last 48 hours 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 competition to decide the best first-party game of this hardware cycle. You were given eight PS5 games and eight Xbox Series X exclusives to compete against each other, all heading towards a championship round where the top game from each platform would battle it out. We've witnessed some incredibly close calls in the first two rounds, particularly the extremely tight polls from the previous day. Now, it's moment to decide the leading PlayStation and Xbox titles ahead of Thursday’s final battle.

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 seems like a major shock. However, to reach the championship, it'll need to defeat the most valuable player of the PlayStation 5 era: Insomniac Games. Marvel’s Spider-Man 2 had a smooth path to the semi-finals, leaping past 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 chibi cameo in the next Astro Bot game?

The Xbox Series X Side

The Xbox Series X side has been more exciting. Coming out on top from a more eclectic field of contenders 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 same pedestal as classic platformers and cinematic action-adventure games. Its last roadblock en route to the finals is a major challenge, though. Indiana Jones and the Great Circle has shown itself as a crowd favorite, beating critical darlings like Pentiment and Hi-Fi Rush. Can it beat a larger-scale title from an established IP that's closely tied to Xbox itself? Should anyone manage this feat, it's likely Indiana Jones.

Cast your votes to determine the top PlayStation and Xbox titles of this generation, and return on the next day to see which games will face off for the grand prize in the finals!

Polling Timeline

• Round of 16: November 10, 11:00 AM Eastern - Tuesday, Nov. 11 at 9 a.m. EST
• Round of 8: November 11, 11:00 AM Eastern - November 12, 9:00 AM Eastern
• Final Four: November 12, 11:00 AM Eastern - November 13, 9:00 AM Eastern
• Championship: November 13, 11:00 AM Eastern - November 14, 9:00 AM Eastern
• 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 versus Indiana Jones and the Great Circle

Cast Your Votes