Sid Meier's Civilization VII Debuts at Number 2 in UK Charts, Outperforming on Nintendo Switch

Sid Meier's Civilization VII made an impressive entrance in this week's UK boxed game charts, launching at number 2 and demonstrating significant traction on the Nintendo Switch platform.

Published by 2K Games, the highly anticipated strategy title outperformed established hits like Kingdom Come: Deliverance II and Mario Kart 8 Deluxe, asserting itself as one of 2025's most notable releases so far.

However, Civilization VII could not secure the top spot, which remained in the hands of EA Sports FC 25, the perennial favorite known for its strong UK following.

Civilization VII’s performance is especially noteworthy regarding its platform split: the Nintendo Switch version accounted for 27% of total boxed sales, surpassing both PC and Xbox platforms.

Specifically, the breakdown for Civilization VII’s launch week is as follows: PS5 led with 47%, Nintendo Switch captured 27%, PC followed with 17%, and Xbox comprised 10% of sales.

This strong Switch showing signals the platform's continued importance for multi-platform releases and highlights the robust demand for strategy games among Nintendo's user base.

As traditional retail presence for PC and Xbox titles wanes, Nintendo Switch has solidified its role as a retail mainstay, a trend validated by these latest figures.

Elsewhere in the charts, EA Sports FC 25 maintained its dominance at number one, with a platform split of Switch 36%, PS5 33%, PS4 23%, and Xbox 7%.

Mario Kart 8 Deluxe, a consistent bestseller since its 2017 launch, continues to appear in the top five, reaffirming the Nintendo Switch's longevity and diverse portfolio.

Other Nintendo-related highlights this week include Donkey Kong Country Returns HD, which is on a gentle decline, and The Legend of Heroes: Trails Through Daybreak II debuting at number 25.

It Takes Two also re-entered the chart at number 16, with Switch users representing 71% of its sales during this period, further illustrating the platform's influence in the boxed retail market. According to sales data compiled by GfK, this week's top 40 continues to reflect a mix of long-standing franchises and new releases competing across PlayStation, Xbox, and Nintendo Switch.

For 2K Games, the success of Sid Meier’s Civilization VII on Switch and its overall debut marks an important achievement, extending the reach of the venerable franchise.

As boxed sales remain an important metric in the UK, Nintendo Switch’s consistent market share demonstrates that physical game ownership remains relevant, especially among Nintendo’s dedicated install base.

Gamers and industry watchers can expect Civilization VII's momentum to continue as the title gains further traction and word-of-mouth.

For now, however, EA Sports FC 25 remains the game to beat at the UK retail front, but Civilization VII's strong entry reaffirms the enduring appeal of thoughtful strategy titles—particularly on Nintendo hardware.

Nintendo Switch Nintendo Civilization VII Switch Sid Meier's Civilization VII UK Charts Civilization UK