We'll Name the Best Game of the Gaming Era: Semi-Finals

The past two days have been nothing short of dramatic. On 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. We presented eight PS5 games and eight Xbox Series X exclusives to face off against each other, culminating in a championship round where the leading contender from each console would go head-to-head. We've witnessed some nail-biting finishes in the first two rounds, particularly yesterday’s razor-thin votes. Now, it's moment to decide the best PS5 and Xbox Series X games before Thursday’s final battle.

The PS5 Side

For PlayStation 5, we have the giant-slayer, Astro Bot. Perhaps it's expected given that it took home the top prize at last year’s Game Awards, but its win against God of War Ragnarök seems like a major shock. But to get to the finals, it'll need to defeat the most valuable player of the PlayStation 5 era: the acclaimed developer. Marvel’s Spider-Man 2 enjoyed an easy journey to the semi-finals, leaping past Ghost of Yōtei and Ratchet & Clank: Rift Apart (another title from the same studio!) to secure a spot in the semi-finals. Will Spider-Man defeat a beloved PlayStation icon, or is he destined to become a chibi cameo in the next Astro Bot game?

Xbox Series X Contenders

The Xbox Series X side has been more exciting. Emerging victorious 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 final obstacle on the way to the finals is a big one, though. Indiana Jones and the Great Circle has shown itself as a crowd favorite, defeating acclaimed titles like Pentiment and Hi-Fi Rush. Will it overcome a larger-scale title from an established IP that's synonymous with the Xbox brand? Should anyone manage this feat, it's likely Indiana Jones.

Cast your votes to decide the best PS5 and Xbox Series X games of this generation, and return on the next day to see which games will face off for the grand prize in the finals!

Voting Schedule

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