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These last 48 hours have been nothing short of dramatic. On Monday, we marked the half-decade milestone of the PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X with a competition to determine the top exclusive title of this hardware cycle. 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 leading contender from each platform would go head-to-head. We've witnessed some nail-biting finishes in the initial matchups, particularly yesterday’s razor-thin votes. At this point, it's time to crown the best PS5 and Xbox Series X games ahead of Thursday’s final battle.

PlayStation 5 Contenders

On the PS5 side, 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 victory over God of War Ragnarök seems like a major shock. But to get to the finals, it'll have to go through the most valuable player of the PlayStation 5 era: Insomniac Games. Marvel’s Spider-Man 2 had a smooth path to the semi-finals, defeating Ghost of Yōtei and Ratchet & Clank: Rift Apart (another Insomniac game!) to land in the final four. Can Spidey topple a beloved PlayStation icon, or is he fated to become a chibi cameo in the next Astro Bot game?

Xbox Series X Contenders

The Xbox Series X side has been even juicier. Coming out on top from a more eclectic field of contenders is Forza Horizon 5. It's a big victory for the open-world driving game already, demonstrating that a more specialized genre game earns to be on the equal footing as classic platformers and story-driven epics. 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 fan favorite, defeating acclaimed titles like Pentiment and Hi-Fi Rush. Will it overcome a much bigger game from an well-known franchise that's synonymous with the Xbox brand? 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 era, and return on the next day to see who will be competing for the ultimate trophy in the finals!

Polling Timeline

• First Round: Monday, Nov. 10 at 11 a.m. EST - November 11, 9:00 AM Eastern
• Round of 8: November 11, 11:00 AM Eastern - 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: Thursday, Nov. 13 at 11 a.m. EST - November 14, 9:00 AM Eastern
• Winner announced: Friday, Nov. 14 at 11 a.m. EST

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

Cast Your Votes