We'll Crown the Best Title of the Gaming Era: Semi-Finals
These last 48 hours have been incredibly eventful. This past Monday, we celebrated the five-year anniversary of the PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X with a tournament to decide 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, culminating in a final showdown where the leading contender from each platform would go head-to-head. We've witnessed some nail-biting finishes in the first two rounds, particularly yesterday’s razor-thin votes. At this point, it's time to crown the best PS5 and Xbox Series X games 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 given that it won top honors at last year’s Game Awards, but its win against God of War Ragnarök feels like a true upset. 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 enjoyed an easy journey to the final four, defeating Ghost of Yōtei and Ratchet & Clank: Rift Apart (another title from the same studio!) to secure a spot in the semi-finals. Will Spider-Man defeat a home-grown Sony mascot, or is he fated to become a miniature appearance in the next Astro Bot game?
The Xbox Series X Side
For Xbox Series X has been more exciting. Coming out on top from a more eclectic field of contenders is Forza Horizon 5. It's a big victory for the racing adventure title so far, proving that a niche category title deserves to be on the same pedestal as traditional jump-and-run games and cinematic action-adventure games. Its final obstacle 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. Will it overcome a larger-scale title from an established IP 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 grand prize in the championship round!
Voting Schedule
Round of 16: Monday, Nov. 10 at 11 a.m. EST - Tuesday, Nov. 11 at 9 a.m. ESTQuarter-finals: November 11, 11:00 AM Eastern - November 12, 9:00 AM Eastern- Final Four: November 12, 11:00 AM Eastern - Thursday, Nov. 13 at 9 a.m. EST
- Championship: Thursday, Nov. 13 at 11 a.m. EST - November 14, 9:00 AM Eastern
- Champion crowned: November 14, 11:00 AM Eastern
Matchups
PS5 Division
Astro Bot versus Marvel’s Spider-Man 2
Xbox Series X Bracket
Forza Horizon 5 vs. Indiana Jones and the Great Circle