The UK’s Christmas no.1 is…Kylie Minogue with XMAS! No, wait – we’re looking at the wrong chart. It’s actually the venerable EA Sports FC 26 that takes no.1 in the all formats retail top 40.
The coveted Christmas spot usually involves a battle between EA Sports FC (nee FIFA) and Call of Duty, but this year it appears to have been a close call between EA Sports FC 26 and the Switch 2 pack-in Mario Kart World, which sits at #2. Call of Duty: Black Ops 7 had to settle for #3, although it did top the PS5 festive chart.
Pokémon Z-A Legends fell to #4, chart stalwarts Minecraft and Mario Kart 8 Deluxe took #5 and #6, Donkey Kong Bananza rose to #7, Ghost of Yōtei moved down to #8, Battlefield 6 re-entered the top ten at #9 – up from #18 and then at #10 it’s Just Dance 2026 Edition.
This means Nintendo rules the top ten this week with five games present. In fact, Nintendo has eleven games in the top 20 – including Metroid Prime 4: Beyond at #15 and a trio of Super Mario titles just outside the top ten.
It’s Pokémon Z-A Legends that takes no.1 in the Switch chart, though. EA Sports FC 26 topped the PS4 and Xbox Series charts, LEGO Marvel Collection rules the roost on Xbox One, while Football Manager 26 scores no.1 on PC. There is, amazingly, a 3DS chart too – which sees Persona Q: Shadow of the Labyrinth at no.1. Fresh.
Titles enjoying a Christmas resurgence include GTA V, Astro Bot, Marvel’s Spider-Man 2, Super Mario Bros. Wonder, Jurassic World Evolution 3, and Zelda: Breath of the Wild. This gives a glimpse as to what might be under some people’s trees this year.
Let’s Sing 2026, which launched in November, made a belated top 40 appearance at #30. Ubisoft’s Avatar: Frontiers of Pandora – From the Ashes Edition – which includes the base game and new DLC – turned up at #38, meanwhile.
As the charts are a week behind, next week’s top 40 will reveal the most popular titles sold throughout Christmas. Until then, take it away Kylie…