Seven days ago, most readers were still discovering how many typos were hidden in the Epstein files, the Steam Machine existed mostly as a social-media rumor, and 16 nominees were competing in Polygon’s reader-driven Game of the Generation bracket. Now the tournament has crowned a champion — and the winner is…
Astro Bot (PS5)
Graphic: Grant Walkup/PolygonIf you followed our daily polls this week, you know Monday kicked off with separate brackets for each major platform. The Xbox side featured eight first-party contenders (Avowed, Doom: The Dark Ages, Forza Horizon 5, Halo Infinite, Hi-Fi Rush, Indiana Jones and the Great Circle, Pentiment, and Starfield), while PlayStation’s bracket showcased eight PS5 exclusives (Astro Bot, Death Stranding 2, Ghost of Yotei, God of War Ragnarök, Helldivers 2, Marvel’s Spider-Man 2, Ratchet and Clank: Rift Apart, and Returnal).
By the semifinals, Astro Bot faced off against Marvel’s Spider-Man 2 in the PlayStation bracket, and Forza Horizon 5 narrowly trailed Indiana Jones and the Great Circle on the Xbox side. When voting closed, readers made their choice: archaeological adventure bowed out to a tiny robot with big ambitions.
Final round tally:
- Astro Bot: 70%
- Indiana Jones and the Great Circle: 30%
Not the squeakiest of finishes — Astro Bot won by a comfortable margin. Its victory wasn’t merely sentimental: the PS5 title pushed the DualSense controller in creative ways and offered a platforming experience that felt both joyful and reverent toward gaming history. The campaign cleverly references hundreds of classic characters while delivering meticulously crafted levels and playful mechanics.
Indiana Jones and the Great Circle, developed by MachineGames, remains an impressive achievement in its own right. The studio, better known for high-octane shooters, surprised players with a game built around intricate puzzles and painstakingly realized environments — from a meticulously rendered Vatican to the lush Sukhothai jungle — and Troy Baker’s vocal turn as the lead earned deserved praise.
Still, when distinguishing between an excellent game and one that defines a console generation, Astro Bot comfortably occupies the latter category. It’s a love letter to platformers and a standout showcase for what the PS5 can deliver in both feel and presentation. Congratulations to the little robot who conquered the bracket — and to Indiana Jones, who fought valiantly. Perhaps we’ll see him show up as a cameo in Astro Bot’s inevitable follow-up.
Source: Polygon
