We'll Crown the Greatest Title of the Gaming Era: Final Four
These last 48 hours have been incredibly eventful. This past Monday, we marked the five-year anniversary of the PS5 and Xbox Series X consoles with a tournament to decide the best first-party game of this console generation. We presented eight PlayStation 5 titles and eight Xbox Series X games to face off against each other, all heading towards a final showdown where the leading contender from each platform would go head-to-head. There have been some incredibly close calls in the initial matchups, particularly yesterday’s razor-thin votes. Now, it's time to crown the best PS5 and Xbox Series X games ahead of the championship on Thursday.
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 the previous year's gaming accolades, but its win against God of War Ragnarök seems like a major shock. But to get to the finals, it'll have to go through the most valuable player of the PS5 generation: 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 semi-finals. Can Spidey topple a beloved PlayStation icon, or is he destined to become a chibi cameo in the upcoming Astro Bot title?
The Xbox Series X Side
For Xbox Series X has been more exciting. Emerging victorious from a more eclectic field of competitors is Forza Horizon 5. It's a significant win for the racing adventure title so far, proving that a more specialized genre game earns to be on the same pedestal as classic platformers and story-driven epics. Its final obstacle on the way to the championship is a big one, though. Indiana Jones and the Great Circle has shown itself as a crowd favorite, defeating critical darlings like Pentiment and Hi-Fi Rush. Can it beat a larger-scale title from an established IP that's synonymous with Xbox itself? Should anyone manage this feat, it's likely Indiana Jones.
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 championship round!
Polling Timeline
First Round: November 10, 11:00 AM Eastern - November 11, 9:00 AM EasternRound 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: 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 vs. Marvel’s Spider-Man 2
Xbox Series X Division
Forza Horizon 5 versus Indiana Jones and the Great Circle