The past two days have been incredibly eventful. On Monday, we celebrated the half-decade milestone of the PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X with a tournament to decide the best first-party game of this console generation. You were given eight PlayStation 5 titles and eight Xbox Series X exclusives to face off against each other, culminating in a final showdown where the top game from each console would go head-to-head. We've witnessed some incredibly close calls in the initial matchups, especially yesterday’s razor-thin votes. At this point, it's time to crown the best PS5 and Xbox Series X games before Thursday’s final battle.
For PlayStation 5, we have the Kratos-killer, Astro Bot. Perhaps it's expected considering that it won top honors 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 have to go through the MVP of the PlayStation 5 era: the acclaimed developer. Marvel’s Spider-Man 2 had a smooth path to the final four, defeating Ghost of Yōtei and Ratchet & Clank: Rift Apart (another Insomniac game!) to secure a spot in the final four. Can Spidey topple a beloved PlayStation icon, or is he destined to become a miniature appearance in the next Astro Bot game?
The Xbox Series X side has been more exciting. Emerging victorious from a more eclectic field of contenders is Forza Horizon 5. It's a big victory for the racing adventure title already, demonstrating that a niche category title earns to be on the same pedestal as traditional jump-and-run games and story-driven epics. Its final obstacle en route to the finals 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. Will it overcome a much bigger game from an well-known franchise that's closely tied to Xbox itself? 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 come back tomorrow to see who will be competing for the ultimate trophy in the championship round!
PlayStation 5 Bracket
Astro Bot vs. Marvel’s Spider-Man 2
Xbox Series X Bracket
Forza Horizon 5 versus Indiana Jones and the Great Circle
An avid hiker and nature photographer with a passion for exploring the Italian Alps and sharing travel insights.
