Animal Crossing: New Horizons begins 2021 on top of the UK Charts

Isabelle gonna start your year right

Nintendo’s totes-adorbs lifestyle sim Animal Crossing: New Horizons has returned to the top of the UK Charts, beginning 2021 as the biggest selling physical title for the year’s opening week. No doubt a result of a new army of post-holiday Nintendo Switch owners.

Animal Crossing: New Horizons was the UK’s second highest-selling physical release of 2020, just behind Electronic Arts’ football simulator FIFA 21, which is renowned for its persistent staying power as far as British retail is concerned. The remainder of the Top Ten is rounded out with steady sales from Ubisoft’s Assassin’s Creed Valhalla, Activision’s Call of Duty: Black Ops Cold War, and further Nintendo releases including Minecraft, Super Mario 3D All-Stars, and Mario Kart 8 Deluxe.

2021 is set to be a tough year for the UK chart scene. Not only does each progressive year result in a further shift from physical to digital sales, but the incoming confusion and fragility of Brexit are likely to play havoc with trade routes, currency values, and the status of the UK high street. And this is all without even making mention of the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. It is set to be an awkward and difficult time for British retail going forward.

U.K. video game sales chart w/e: January 2, 2021
(Chart reflects in-store physical sales only)

1. Animal Crossing: New Horizons – Nintendo
2. FIFA 21 – Electronic Arts
3. Mario Kart 8 Deluxe – Nintendo
4. Assassin’s Creed Valhalla – Ubisoft
5. Just Dance 2021 – Ubisoft
6. Call of Duty: Black Ops Cold War – Activision
7. Minecraft – Nintendo
8. Super Mario 3D All-Stars – Nintendo
9. Grand Theft Auto V – Take 2 Interactive
10. New Super Mario Bros. U Deluxe – Nintendo

U.K. video game charts [GamesIndustry.biz]