The first week of January 2026 has brought the latest UK software sales chart, highlighting ongoing momentum within the gaming market as the industry emerges from its typical holiday lull.
For the week ending January 3, Mario Kart World robustly held onto its runner-up position, showcasing Nintendo's enduring appeal on the Nintendo Switch platform.
Meanwhile, perennial favorite Mario Kart 8 Deluxe, which sat at fifth place last week, remains firmly entrenched in the top ten—slipping only slightly in the rankings. This week's sales chart underscores the depth and variety of the UK video game market.
EA Sports FC 26, published by Electronic Arts, continues to command the top spot, illustrating consistent demand for football-themed esports titles across platforms, including the Nintendo Switch.
Call of Duty: Black Ops 7 by Activision Blizzard retains its third-place ranking, evidence of the franchise’s remarkable staying power. Kepler Interactive's role-playing adventure Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 made a notable leap from seventeenth into the top five, indicating growing interest in new IPs even in a typically slow sales period.
Other Nintendo Switch mainstays such as Pokémon Legends: Z-A and Nintendo Switch Sports further demonstrate the platform's robust catalogue and the strength of Nintendo's first-party software. Nintendo’s influence is evident throughout the chart, with six of the top fifteen spots occupied by Nintendo-published titles.
This includes crowd-pleasers like Donkey Kong Bananza, Super Mario Party Jamboree, and Animal Crossing: New Horizons, all maintaining positions in the highly competitive UK market. A representative from Nintendo’s UK division (paraphrased) recently acknowledged the company’s strong start to the year, noting that “the sustained interest in both longstanding and new titles shows the ongoing enthusiasm fans have for the Nintendo Switch.” Legacy titles also remain prominent; Grand Theft Auto V by Take 2 continues to defy age, and Minecraft (published for Switch by Nintendo) secures a top-ten position, highlighting the durability of these blockbuster franchises in the retail space.
Meanwhile, fresh entries such as Mortal Kombat 11 Ultimate by Warner Bros.
Interactive and Battlefield 6 by Electronic Arts highlight the triple-A sector’s vibrancy as 2026 gets underway. Below the top ten, the chart reveals a mix of returning hits and innovative releases, from platform exclusives like Super Mario Galaxy + Super Mario Galaxy 2 and Metroid Prime 4: Beyond to high-profile multiplatform launches such as Assassin’s Creed Shadows and Hogwarts Legacy.
This breadth ensures that UK gamers have a diverse range of experiences to choose from, whether they’re seeking competitive action, creative world-building, or family-friendly fun. The sustained performance of Nintendo Switch titles in the weekly UK game sales charts underscores the console’s enduring popularity and the ongoing relevance of Nintendo’s IPs.
As the industry gears up for the next wave of flagship releases and potential Nintendo Direct announcements, all eyes remain on these rankings for insights into player preferences and the evolving landscape of the video game market.
For the week ending January 3, Mario Kart World robustly held onto its runner-up position, showcasing Nintendo's enduring appeal on the Nintendo Switch platform.
Meanwhile, perennial favorite Mario Kart 8 Deluxe, which sat at fifth place last week, remains firmly entrenched in the top ten—slipping only slightly in the rankings. This week's sales chart underscores the depth and variety of the UK video game market.
EA Sports FC 26, published by Electronic Arts, continues to command the top spot, illustrating consistent demand for football-themed esports titles across platforms, including the Nintendo Switch.
Call of Duty: Black Ops 7 by Activision Blizzard retains its third-place ranking, evidence of the franchise’s remarkable staying power. Kepler Interactive's role-playing adventure Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 made a notable leap from seventeenth into the top five, indicating growing interest in new IPs even in a typically slow sales period.
Other Nintendo Switch mainstays such as Pokémon Legends: Z-A and Nintendo Switch Sports further demonstrate the platform's robust catalogue and the strength of Nintendo's first-party software. Nintendo’s influence is evident throughout the chart, with six of the top fifteen spots occupied by Nintendo-published titles.
This includes crowd-pleasers like Donkey Kong Bananza, Super Mario Party Jamboree, and Animal Crossing: New Horizons, all maintaining positions in the highly competitive UK market. A representative from Nintendo’s UK division (paraphrased) recently acknowledged the company’s strong start to the year, noting that “the sustained interest in both longstanding and new titles shows the ongoing enthusiasm fans have for the Nintendo Switch.” Legacy titles also remain prominent; Grand Theft Auto V by Take 2 continues to defy age, and Minecraft (published for Switch by Nintendo) secures a top-ten position, highlighting the durability of these blockbuster franchises in the retail space.
Meanwhile, fresh entries such as Mortal Kombat 11 Ultimate by Warner Bros.
Interactive and Battlefield 6 by Electronic Arts highlight the triple-A sector’s vibrancy as 2026 gets underway. Below the top ten, the chart reveals a mix of returning hits and innovative releases, from platform exclusives like Super Mario Galaxy + Super Mario Galaxy 2 and Metroid Prime 4: Beyond to high-profile multiplatform launches such as Assassin’s Creed Shadows and Hogwarts Legacy.
This breadth ensures that UK gamers have a diverse range of experiences to choose from, whether they’re seeking competitive action, creative world-building, or family-friendly fun. The sustained performance of Nintendo Switch titles in the weekly UK game sales charts underscores the console’s enduring popularity and the ongoing relevance of Nintendo’s IPs.
As the industry gears up for the next wave of flagship releases and potential Nintendo Direct announcements, all eyes remain on these rankings for insights into player preferences and the evolving landscape of the video game market.
