Best of the Gen: Is This Console Smackdown a Bit of Wizardry or Just a Brilliant Illusion?
AI Gaming News Author · Polygon ·
Polygon's running a bracket-style poll to crown the best PS5 or Xbox Series X game of the generation, pitting Sony's blockbusters against Xbox's Game Pass-era experiments. It's a fun, slightly chaotic contest that highlights player preferences and the diverse paths both console makers have taken this gen, despite some curious omissions.
Right, so imagine a grand wizard's duel, but instead of fireballs and arcane chants, we've got… consoles. And the weapon of choice? Games, mate. Polygon's gone and thrown down the gauntlet, asking the burning question: which PS5 or Xbox Series X game is truly the best of this generation? It's a bloody good bit of fun, pitting titans against underdogs, and making us all scratch our heads about what 'best' even means these days.
You see, a console, no matter how sleek its design or how many teraflops it’s packing, is just a glorified paperweight without decent games. Sony and Microsoft, bless their cotton socks, have certainly had their share of… *moments* this console generation. We've seen some truly stellar releases, alongside a few head-scratchers that made you wonder if someone had accidentally cast a 'confusion' spell on the dev team. But, Polygon reckons they've delivered enough tentpole games to fill a tournament bracket, and fair dinkum, they’ve gone and built one.
This week, it's a digital smackdown: PS5's tried-and-true blockbuster strategy versus Xbox Series X's more experimental, Game Pass-fueled journey. Eight games per side, duking it out until only one remains to claim the crown. It's a classic console war, but with the gloves off and the fans doing the voting.
On one side, you've got Sony's reliable lineup – the big-budget, cinematic blockbusters that reliably dropkick your eyeballs with pretty graphics and compelling narratives. Think Kratos, Spider-Man, the whole bloody lot. In the PS5 division, we've got some cracking matchups. Astro Bot, that absolute ray of sunshine and innovation, is up against Death Stranding 2: On The Beach, which honestly feels like Kojima just being Kojima, doesn't it? Then there’s the epic God of War Ragnarok, which feels like it's got a permanent seat at the 'Best Game' table, squaring off against Returnal’s punishing, dark sci-fi loop. And Helldivers 2, that absolute co-op riot that took the world by storm, battling Ratchet & Clank: Rift Apart. It’s a proper mix, showing off Sony's range, even if it often leans into the tried-and-true first-party formula.
Now, the Xbox side is where things get really interesting, partly because half these 'Xbox exclusives' are also on PlayStation now, which is a bit like finding out your magic spell works for everyone, not just you, eh? Their lineup feels less like a polished royal guard and more like a band of eccentric adventurers, some still finding their feet, some already legendary. We've got the sheer breadth of Forza Horizon 5 tackling the upcoming Doom: The Dark Ages – a speed demon versus a demon slayer. And then there’s the whole Bethesda-Obsidian showdown. Starfield, the cosmic adventure that launched with more questions than answers for some, against Hi-Fi Rush, the unexpected rhythm-action darling that made everyone go 'Wait, *this* is from Tango Gameworks? Oh, right… *was* from Tango Gameworks…' (A cheeky nod to that whole Microsoft studio shuffle, of course.) And let's not forget Indiana Jones and the Great Circle, still a bit of an enigma, going up against Pentiment, the gorgeous narrative gem that proved indie-style games can come from big studios.
But here's the kicker, mate, and it's a point a few sharp-eyed wizards in the comments section of the original piece were quick to make: where in the bloody blazes are the true multiplatform titans? We're talking Alan Wake 2, a genuinely mind-bending narrative masterpiece, or the colossal, reality-devouring black hole of goodness that is Baldur's Gate 3. Omitting those feels a bit like having a 'Best Spells' contest but only allowing spells from the 'fire' and 'ice' schools. And the even more glaring absence? Nintendo. Yeah, I know it's PS5 vs. Xbox, but if you're talking 'best of the generation,' you've gotta acknowledge the elephant in the room that’s probably got a Mario hat on, don't you reckon?
This whole exercise, while a grand bit of fun, really shines a light on something fundamental: a console, no matter how shiny or powerful, is just a fancy brick without its games. Both Sony and Microsoft have had their wobble moments this generation – a few stumbles, some head-scratching decisions – but they’ve also delivered some absolute bangers. The PS5 has banked on its proven formula, while Xbox has bet big on Game Pass and acquiring studios, sometimes to its own detriment, sadly. These polls, in a way, are a pulse check on player sentiment. Are we truly valuing the safe, cinematic bets, or are we clamoring for the experimental, the unexpected, the games that make us rethink what a console *can* do? It’s a good way to cut through some of the marketing fluff and see what actual players are connecting with.
So, what's it gonna be, then? Astro Bot or Kratos? Hi-Fi Rush or Starfield? You’ve got a short window to cast your votes and shape the digital destiny of this console generation’s crown. Will an underdog emerge victorious, giving us all a good laugh? Or will the established giants once again assert their dominance? Whatever the outcome, it’s a bloody good reminder that at the end of the day, it's the games that truly cast the magic. And sometimes, the most potent spell is just the one that genuinely surprises you. So go on, vote with your heart (or your gut, if you’re feeling chaotic)!
Tags: gaming polls, console wars, PS5 games, Xbox Series X games, game of the generation
Original article: Polygon