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These last 48 hours have been incredibly eventful. This past Monday, we marked the five-year anniversary of the PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X with a competition to determine the top exclusive title of this hardware cycle. We presented eight PS5 games and eight Xbox Series X exclusives to compete against each other, culminating in a final showdown where the leading contender from each platform would battle it out. There have been some incredibly close calls in the initial matchups, particularly yesterday’s razor-thin votes. Now, 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 giant-slayer, Astro Bot. Perhaps it's expected given 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 need to defeat the most valuable player of the PS5 generation: the acclaimed developer. Marvel’s Spider-Man 2 had a smooth path to the semi-finals, 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 home-grown Sony mascot, or is he fated to become a chibi cameo in the upcoming Astro Bot title?

The Xbox Series X Side

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, proving that a more specialized genre game earns to be on the same pedestal as traditional jump-and-run games and story-driven epics. Its last roadblock en route to the finals 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 much bigger game from an established IP that's closely tied to Xbox itself? 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 generation, and come back tomorrow to see who will be competing for the grand prize in the championship round!

Polling Timeline

• First Round: Monday, Nov. 10 at 11 a.m. EST - 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
• Semi-final round: November 12, 11:00 AM Eastern - November 13, 9:00 AM Eastern
• Final round: Thursday, Nov. 13 at 11 a.m. EST - November 14, 9:00 AM Eastern
• Champion crowned: 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 versus Indiana Jones and the Great Circle

Make Your Choice