We'll Name the Best Game of the Console Generation: Final Four
The past two days have been nothing short of dramatic. On Monday, we celebrated the five-year anniversary of the PS5 and Xbox Series X consoles with a tournament to determine the top exclusive title of this hardware cycle. We presented eight PlayStation 5 titles and eight Xbox Series X games to face off against each other, culminating in a final showdown where the leading contender from each console would go head-to-head. There have been some incredibly close calls in the first two rounds, especially yesterday’s razor-thin votes. Now, it's time to crown the leading PlayStation and Xbox titles before the championship on Thursday.
PlayStation 5 Contenders
On the PS5 side, we have the Kratos-killer, Astro Bot. Perhaps it's expected given that it took home the top prize at last year’s Game Awards, but its victory over God of War Ragnarök feels like a true upset. But to get to the finals, it'll need to defeat the most valuable player of the PlayStation 5 era: Insomniac Games. 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 land in the semi-finals. Can Spidey topple a beloved PlayStation icon, or is he fated to become a chibi cameo in the upcoming Astro Bot title?
The Xbox Series X Side
The Xbox Series X side has been more exciting. 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 so far, demonstrating 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 championship is a major challenge, 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 closely tied to Xbox itself? Should anyone manage this feat, it's likely Indiana Jones.
Place your ballots to determine the best PS5 and Xbox Series X games of this era, and come back tomorrow 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. ESTQuarter-finals: Tuesday, Nov. 11 at 11 a.m. EST - November 12, 9:00 AM Eastern- Semi-final round: 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
- Winner announced: November 14, 11:00 AM Eastern
Head-to-Head Battles
PlayStation 5 Bracket
Astro Bot vs. Marvel’s Spider-Man 2
Xbox Series X Division
Forza Horizon 5 vs. Indiana Jones and the Great Circle