Let's Name the Best Game of the Console Generation: Final Four

The past two days have been nothing short of dramatic. On 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. You were given eight PlayStation 5 titles and eight Xbox Series X exclusives to compete against each other, culminating in a championship round where the leading contender from each console would go head-to-head. We've witnessed some incredibly close calls in the initial matchups, particularly the extremely tight polls from the previous day. Now, it's moment to decide 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 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 MVP of the PS5 generation: 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 secure a spot in the final four. 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 even juicier. Coming out on top from a diverse lineup of contenders is Forza Horizon 5. It's a big victory for the open-world driving game already, proving that a niche category title earns to be on the equal footing as classic platformers 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, defeating critical darlings like Pentiment and Hi-Fi Rush. Will it overcome a much bigger game 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 decide the best PS5 and Xbox Series X games of this generation, and come back tomorrow to see who will be competing for the grand prize in the championship round!

Polling Timeline

• First Round: November 10, 11:00 AM Eastern - Tuesday, Nov. 11 at 9 a.m. EST
• Quarter-finals: Tuesday, Nov. 11 at 11 a.m. EST - Wednesday, Nov. 12 at 9 a.m. EST
• Final Four: Wednesday, Nov. 12 at 11 a.m. ET - Thursday, Nov. 13 at 9 a.m. EST
• Final round: November 13, 11:00 AM Eastern - Friday, Nov. 14 at 9 a.m. EST
• Winner announced: November 14, 11:00 AM Eastern

Matchups

PlayStation 5 Bracket

Astro Bot versus Marvel’s Spider-Man 2

Xbox Series X Division

Forza Horizon 5 versus Indiana Jones and the Great Circle

Cast Your Votes