Nintendo's Resurgence in the UK Market
Nintendo has quietly asserted its dominance over the UK sales charts, with an impressive half of the top 20 best-selling games belonging to the Japanese gaming giant. This remarkable achievement underscores a significant turnaround for Nintendo in a market that has historically been its weakest major territory.
The Switch 2 Phenomenon
The Nintendo Switch 2 has emerged as the fastest-selling console in history, with sales figures in both the United States and United Kingdom outpacing those of the original Switch model. This success comes despite some seasonal slowdown during the Christmas period, highlighting the console's strong appeal to British consumers.
According to industry analysis from The Game Business, UK sales for the Switch 2 during its first year have surpassed the original Switch by 6%. This indicates a growing affinity among British gamers for what many affectionately call the House of Mario.
Historical Context and Market Evolution
Nintendo's current success represents a dramatic reversal from its early struggles in the UK market. The Nintendo Entertainment System (NES) failed to make a significant impact when it launched in 1987, arriving years late and with prohibitively high pricing. This initial setback created a ripple effect that saw subsequent consoles like the SNES, Nintendo 64, and GameCube struggle against competitors.
The turning point arrived with the Nintendo DS and Wii consoles, which collectively sold over eight million units in the UK. Since that breakthrough, Nintendo's popularity has continued to grow steadily, despite the disappointing performance of the Wii U. The original Switch has sold more than 7.2 million units in the UK since its 2017 launch.
Chart Dominance in Early 2026
The fifth week of 2026 (spanning January 25 to January 31) demonstrated Nintendo's commanding position in the UK physical game charts. The top four positions were all occupied by Nintendo-published titles: Mario Kart World, Animal Crossing: New Horizons, Pokémon Legends: Z-A, and Mario Kart 8 Deluxe. In total, six Nintendo games appeared in the top ten.
Mario Kart World maintained its number one position for the third consecutive week, while Animal Crossing: New Horizons climbed one place, continuing to benefit from renewed interest following its 3.0 update and Switch 2 Edition release. Interestingly, sales data reveals a 71% to 29% split between the original Switch and Switch 2 versions, suggesting many players are purchasing the original version with plans to upgrade later.
Beyond the Top Ten
Several notable movements occurred further down the chart. Metroid Prime 4: Beyond made a significant leap from 29th to 16th position, likely driven by discounted pricing on Amazon. Similarly, EA Sports FC 26 jumped twenty places to reach number 15, with 69% of its sales occurring on PlayStation 5.
Nintendo has consistently maintained multiple titles within the top ten since the beginning of 2026, with Mario Kart World, Pokémon Legends: Z-A, and Mario Kart 8 Deluxe appearing regularly. This particular week marked their strongest showing of the year, with Donkey Kong Bananza and Super Mario Galaxy + Super Mario Galaxy 2 entering the lower reaches of the chart.
The Physical versus Digital Divide
While demonstrating Nintendo's progress in the UK market, these charts also highlight the ongoing split between physical and digital sales across different gaming platforms. PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X/S players increasingly favour digital purchases, whereas Nintendo's more family-oriented audience continues to prefer physical media, albeit at a gradually declining rate.
According to The Game Business, sales of new Switch games across Europe were 80% physical in 2024. Nintendo appears to be encouraging a stronger digital focus with the Switch 2, offering cheaper prices on digital titles and promoting its Mario Kart World bundle. However, it remains uncertain whether their audience will transition to digital formats as rapidly as the company might prefer.
Complete UK Retail Games Chart
The full UK retail games chart for January 25 to January 31, 2026, showcases Nintendo's remarkable dominance:
- Mario Kart World
- Animal Crossing: New Horizons (Switch 71%, Switch 2 29%)
- Pokémon Legends: Z-A (Switch 56%, Switch 2 44%)
- Mario Kart 8 Deluxe
- GTA 5
- Minecraft
- Ghost of Yōtei
- Super Mario Galaxy + Super Mario Galaxy 2
- Code Vein 2
- Donkey Kong Bananza
- Super Mario Party Jamboree (Switch 67%, Switch 2 33%)
- Call Of Duty: Black Ops 7
- Just Dance 2026 Edition
- Nintendo Switch Sports
- EA Sports FC 26
- Metroid Prime 4: Beyond
- Final Fantasy 7 Remake Intergrade
- Super Mario Bros. Wonder
- The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt Complete Edition
- Hogwarts Legacy
This comprehensive chart performance illustrates how Nintendo has successfully transformed its fortunes in the UK gaming market, establishing a powerful presence that shows no signs of diminishing.