Let's Crown the Best Title of the Console Generation: Semi-Finals
The past two days 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 hardware cycle. You were given eight PS5 games and eight Xbox Series X games to face off against each other, culminating in a championship round where the top game from each console would go head-to-head. We've witnessed some incredibly close calls in the first two rounds, particularly the extremely tight polls from the previous day. At this point, it's time to crown the best PS5 and Xbox Series X games ahead of the championship on Thursday.
PlayStation 5 Contenders
For PlayStation 5, we have the giant-slayer, Astro Bot. Perhaps it's expected given 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. However, to reach the championship, it'll need to defeat the most valuable player of the PS5 generation: the acclaimed developer. Marvel’s Spider-Man 2 enjoyed an easy journey to the final four, leaping past Ghost of Yōtei and Ratchet & Clank: Rift Apart (another Insomniac game!) to land in the semi-finals. Will Spider-Man defeat a beloved PlayStation icon, or is he fated to become a chibi cameo in the next Astro Bot game?
Xbox Series X Contenders
For Xbox Series X has been even juicier. Coming out on top from a diverse lineup of contenders is Forza Horizon 5. It's a significant win for the racing adventure title already, demonstrating that a more specialized genre game earns to be on the same pedestal as traditional jump-and-run games and story-driven epics. Its final obstacle en route to the championship is a big one, though. Indiana Jones and the Great Circle has proven to be a fan favorite, beating critical darlings like Pentiment and Hi-Fi Rush. Will it overcome a larger-scale title from an established IP that's synonymous with the Xbox brand? If anyone can pull that off, it's likely Indiana Jones.
Cast your votes 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
Round of 16: November 10, 11:00 AM Eastern - November 11, 9:00 AM EasternQuarter-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
- Final round: Thursday, Nov. 13 at 11 a.m. EST - November 14, 9:00 AM Eastern
- Winner announced: November 14, 11:00 AM Eastern
Matchups
PlayStation 5 Bracket
Astro Bot versus Marvel’s Spider-Man 2
Xbox Series X Bracket
Forza Horizon 5 vs. Indiana Jones and the Great Circle