UK Gaming Charts: Nintendo Dominates 12 Slots in the All-Formats Top 40 – But at What Cost to Variety?
Imagine a gaming landscape where one company claims over a quarter of the top-selling spots – it's not just impressive, it's a statement on market power that has fans and critics alike buzzing. As we dive into the latest UK charts data from the final full week of 2025, you'll see how Nintendo's lineup continues to shine, with classics and newcomers alike holding strong. But here's where it gets interesting: Is this dominance fostering innovation, or is it stifling competition? Stick around as we break it all down, and prepare to weigh in on whether this trend is a win for gamers everywhere.
Written by Gavin Lane (https://www.nintendolife.com/authors/dartmonkey) – just a couple of hours ago
The charts for the last complete week of 2025 in the UK reveal a landscape that's largely a gentle remix of familiar favorites. Leading the pack is EA SPORTS FC 26 (https://www.nintendolife.com/games/nintendo-switch-2/ea-sports-fc-26), comfortably perched at the top spot. Meanwhile, Mario Kart titles are sweeping up awards in the sales race – literally dominating twice over – while an impressive array of first-party Nintendo releases (those directly published by the company itself) occupy more than 25% of the all-formats Top 40. For beginners curious about what 'all-formats' means, it simply encompasses physical copies across various platforms, giving a broad snapshot of what's flying off shelves in stores.
Shifting spots include Ghost of Yotei (https://www.pushsquare.com/games/ps5/ghostofyotei) and Just Dance 2026 (https://www.nintendolife.com/games/nintendo-switch/justdance2026edition), which dipped out of the top 10 (with Just Dance even exiting the top 40 entirely). This created openings for Nintendo Switch Sports (https://www.nintendolife.com/games/nintendo-switch/nintendoswitchsports) and GTA5 (https://www.pushsquare.com/games/ps4/grandtheftautov), both of which were lingering just beyond the top 10 last time around. Think of it like a crowded party where guests shuffle to make room for newcomers – in this case, fun, accessible games that appeal to a wide audience.
On the flip side, Metroid Prime 4: Beyond (https://www.nintendolife.com/games/nintendo-switch-2/metroid-prime-4-beyond-nintendo-switch-2-edition) took a notable slide from #17 down to #32, though it's worth noting that a whopping 76% of its sales stemmed from the Switch 2 Edition. This highlights how upgrades or special versions can boost appeal, especially for fans eager for enhanced experiences on newer hardware. Meanwhile, the timeless Zelda adventures – Tears of the Kingdom (TOTK) (https://www.nintendolife.com/games/nintendo-switch/legendofzeldatearsofthekingdom) and Breath of the Wild (BOTW) (https://www.nintendolife.com/games/nintendo-switch/legendofzeldabreathofthewild) – are holding their ground at #37 and #40 respectively. These enduring hits prove that well-crafted worlds and engaging gameplay can keep players coming back years later, a testament to Nintendo's knack for storytelling that resonates across generations.
And this is the part most people miss: While Nintendo's presence is undeniable, it sparks debate. Some argue that such concentration of top spots limits exposure for other developers, potentially narrowing the industry's creativity. Is this a healthy monopoly, or does it encourage more diverse releases? We'll touch on that more as we explore the full chart.
Here's the complete Top 40 breakdown, including platform splits for titles available on Switch, Switch 2, and beyond – a handy guide to see where sales are leaning:
Last Week | This Week | Game | Platform Split
---|---|---|---
1 | 1 | EA Sports FC 26 | PS5 47%, Switch 21%, PS4 13%, Xbox 9%, Switch 2 9%
2 | 2 | Mario Kart World (https://www.nintendolife.com/games/nintendo-switch-2/mario-kart-world) |
3 | 3 | Call of Duty: Black Ops 7 |
4 | 4 | Pokémon Legends: Z-A (https://www.nintendolife.com/games/nintendo-switch-2/pokemon-legends-z-a-nintendo-switch-2-edition) | Switch 62%, Switch 2 38%
6 | 5 | Mario Kart 8 Deluxe (https://www.nintendolife.com/games/nintendo-switch/mariokart8deluxe) |
5 | 6 | Minecraft (https://www.nintendolife.com/games/nintendo-switch/minecraft) |
9 | 7 | Battlefield 6 |
7 | 8 | Donkey Kong Bananza (https://www.nintendolife.com/games/nintendo-switch-2/donkey-kong-bananza) |
11 | 9 | Nintendo Switch Sports |
15 | 10 | Grand Theft Auto V |
12 | 11 | Super Mario Party Jamboree (https://www.nintendolife.com/games/nintendo-switch/supermariopartyjamboree) | Switch 67%, Switch 2 33%
8 | 12 | Ghost of Yotei |
14 | 13 | Animal Crossing: New Horizons (https://www.nintendolife.com/games/nintendo-switch/animalcrossingnewhorizons) |
13 | 14 | Super Mario Galaxy + Super Mario Galaxy 2 (https://www.nintendolife.com/games/nintendo-switch/supermariogalaxyplussupermariogalaxy2) |
16 | 15 | Astro Bot |
25 | 16 | F1 25 |
17 | 17 | Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 |
28 | 18 | Mortal Kombat 11 Ultimate (https://www.nintendolife.com/games/nintendo-switch/mortalkombat11) | PS5 59%, PS4 40%, Switch & Xbox 1%
28 | 19 | Cyberpunk 2077: Ultimate Edition (https://www.nintendolife.com/games/nintendo-switch-2/cyberpunk-2077-ultimate-edition) | PC 55%, PS5 22%, Switch 2 18%, Xbox 5%
20 | 20 | Elden Ring |
19 | 21 | Super Mario Bros. Wonder (https://www.nintendolife.com/games/nintendo-switch/supermariobroswonder) |
22 | 22 | Split Fiction (https://www.nintendolife.com/games/nintendo-switch-2/split-fiction) | PS5 69%, Switch 2 26%, Xbox 5%
24 | 23 | Harry Potter: Quidditch Champions (https://www.nintendolife.com/games/switch-eshop/harrypotterquidditchchampions) | PS5 61%, Switch 36%, PS4 2%
31 | 24 | Gran Turismo 7 |
18 | 25 | Marvel's Spider-Man 2 |
26 | 26 | Gears of War: Reloaded |
23 | 27 | Sonic Racing: CrossWorlds (https://www.nintendolife.com/games/nintendo-switch/sonicracingcrossworlds) | PS5 46%, Switch 41%, Xbox 7%, PS4 6%
35 | 28 | The Witcher III: Wild Hunt Complete Edition | *No Switch data listed
38 | 29 | Avatar: Frontiers of Pandora - From the Ashes Edition |
33 | 30 | Mafia: The Old Country |
31 | 31 | Mortal Kombat 1 (https://www.nintendolife.com/games/nintendo-switch/mortalkombat1) | PS5 96%, Xbox 2%, Switch 2%
17 | 32 | Metroid Prime 4: Beyond (https://www.nintendolife.com/games/nintendo-switch/metroidprime4beyond) | Switch 2 76%, Switch 24%
26 | 33 | Assassin's Creed Shadows | PS5 57%, Xbox 24%, Switch 2 18%
34 | 34 | The Witcher III: Wild Hunt GOTY Edition | *No Switch data listed
20 | 35 | Hogwarts Legacy (https://www.nintendolife.com/games/nintendo-switch-2/hogwarts-legacy) | Switch 38%, PS5 21%, Switch 2 21%, PS4 15%, Xbox 3%
21 | 36 | Jurassic World: Evolution 3 |
27 | 37 | The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom (https://www.nintendolife.com/games/nintendo-switch/legendofzeldatearsofthekingdom) | Switch 52%, Switch 2 48%
38 | 38 | Little Nightmares III (https://www.nintendolife.com/games/nintendo-switch-2/little-nightmares-iii) | Switch 48%, PS5 34%, Switch 2 9%, PS4 6%, Xbox 2%
22 | 39 | LEGO Star Wars: The Skywalker Saga (https://www.nintendolife.com/games/nintendo-switch/legostarwarstheskywalkersaga) | PS5 43%, PS4 25%, Xbox 19%, Switch 14%
29 | 40 | The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild (https://www.nintendolife.com/games/nintendo-switch/legendofzeldabreathofthewild) | Switch 61%, Switch 2 39%
[Data sourced from GfK]
< Check out last week's charts here (https://www.nintendolife.com/news/2025/12/uk-charts-nintendo-performs-admirably-in-its-last-christmas-push)
That's a wrap on this week's UK physical charts! Any unexpected twists that caught your eye? Did you snag any of these titles for yourself? And here's a thought to ponder: With Nintendo hogging so many top spots, are we seeing a golden age of reliable hits, or is it time for the industry to push for more underdog games to break through? Some might say this concentration fosters quality control, while others worry it drowns out fresh voices. What side are you on? Do you agree that variety is key, or is sticking with proven winners the smarter bet? Drop your opinions in the comments – let's discuss!
