Let's Crown the Greatest Game of the Gaming Era: Semi-Finals
These last 48 hours have been nothing short of dramatic. 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 hardware cycle. You were given eight PlayStation 5 titles and eight Xbox Series X games to face off against each other, culminating in a championship round where the leading contender from each platform would battle it out. We've witnessed some nail-biting finishes in the first two rounds, particularly the extremely tight polls from the previous day. Now, it's time to crown the leading PlayStation and Xbox titles ahead of Thursday’s final battle.
PlayStation 5 Contenders
For PlayStation 5, we have the Kratos-killer, Astro Bot. Maybe it should be no surprise considering that it took home the top prize at the previous year's gaming accolades, but its victory over God of War Ragnarök feels like a true upset. 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 title from the same studio!) to land in the final four. Can Spidey topple a home-grown Sony mascot, or is he destined to become a miniature appearance in the upcoming Astro Bot title?
Xbox Series X Contenders
The Xbox Series X side has been even juicier. Coming out on top from a diverse lineup of competitors is Forza Horizon 5. It's a big victory for the open-world driving game so far, proving that a niche category title earns to be on the equal footing as traditional jump-and-run games and cinematic action-adventure games. Its last roadblock on the way to the finals is a big one, though. Indiana Jones and the Great Circle has shown itself as a fan favorite, defeating acclaimed titles like Pentiment and Hi-Fi Rush. Will it overcome a larger-scale title 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 return on the next day to see who will be competing for the ultimate trophy in the championship round!
Voting Schedule
First Round: Monday, Nov. 10 at 11 a.m. EST - Tuesday, Nov. 11 at 9 a.m. ESTQuarter-finals: November 11, 11:00 AM Eastern - November 12, 9:00 AM Eastern- Semi-final round: Wednesday, Nov. 12 at 11 a.m. ET - November 13, 9:00 AM Eastern
- Final round: Thursday, Nov. 13 at 11 a.m. EST - Friday, Nov. 14 at 9 a.m. EST
- Winner announced: November 14, 11:00 AM Eastern
Head-to-Head Battles
PS5 Division
Astro Bot versus Marvel’s Spider-Man 2
Xbox Series X Bracket
Forza Horizon 5 vs. Indiana Jones and the Great Circle
