UK Chart Analysis: Crimson Desert Debuts at No.1, Toppling Resident Evil Requiem

The UK chart delivered one of its busiest weeks of the year, led by a commanding debut for Crimson Desert, which storms straight to No.1. Pearl Abyss’ ambitious open‑world RPG arrives with a striking platform split: PS5 accounts for 90% of all boxed sales, leaving Xbox with the remaining 10%. It is a clear sign of where blockbuster single‑player titles are finding their strongest audience in the UK right now. EA Sports FC 26 rebounds sharply, climbing from No.14 to No.2. The series continues to show remarkable breadth across platforms, with PS5 leading at 40% and both Switch systems combining for over 30%. It remains one of the most platform‑agnostic performers in the charts.

Mario Kart World holds firm at No.3, continuing its early momentum on Switch 2. Nintendo’s latest entry is already behaving like the next evergreen staple in the company’s catalogue. Last week’s No.1, Resident Evil Requiem, slips to No.4 but maintains strong numbers. PS5 and PC account for the vast majority of sales, reinforcing Capcom’s dual‑platform strength, but the Switch 2 edition is still holding its own well enough. WWE 2K26 and Pokémon Pokopia remain steady at No.5 and No.6, with WWE’s 77% PS5 share standing out. Monster Hunter Wilds surges back into the Top 10 at No.7, driven primarily by PC players. Capcom’s momentum continues throughout the chart, with multiple Resident Evil titles and Street Fighter 6 also performing strongly. The publisher has seven games in the Top 40, underlining its exceptional catalogue depth.

One of the week’s biggest jumps comes from Call of Duty: Black Ops 7, which rockets from No.31 to No.8. The rise is almost entirely powered by PS5, which accounts for 84% of sales. Pokémon Legends: Z‑A follows at No.9, with an almost even split between Switch and Switch 2, showing the original hardware still has surprising resilience. F1 25 re‑enters at No.10 with a heavily PS5‑weighted performance. The mid‑chart is dominated by Nintendo’s evergreen titles, including Minecraft, Animal Crossing: New Horizons, Mario Kart 8 Deluxe, and Tears of the Kingdom. These long‑tail performers continue to anchor the Switch ecosystem. The lower half of the chart sees a wave of re‑entries, likely driven by retailer promotions. Highlights include Split Fiction, LEGO Star Wars: The Skywalker Saga, Battlefield 6, Kingdom Come: Deliverance II, and It Takes Two. EA, in particular, has a strong presence across sports titles and legacy favourites.

This week’s charts paint a clear picture of the current UK market. PS5 remains the dominant platform for major third‑party releases, Switch 2 is settling into a consistent rhythm, and PC continues to deliver for publishers like Capcom and Bandai Namco. It is a fiercely competitive week, and one that showcases the breadth and diversity of the UK’s gaming tastes.

Elsewhere, the Switch Top 20 remains dominated by Nintendo’s evergreen hits, with Minecraft holding No.2, Pokémon Legends: Z‑A at No.3, Mario Kart 8 Deluxe at No.4, and Animal Crossing: New Horizons at No.5, while Super Mario Galaxy 1+2 (No.6), Switch Sports (No.7), and Super Mario Bros. Wonder (No.8) continue their long‑tail strength. Third‑party presence is limited, although It Takes Two re‑enters at No.9 and Just Dance 2026 sits at No.12. Switch 2 shows a broader mix of first‑ and third‑party success, led by Mario Kart World at No.1, Pokémon Pokopia at No.2, and Donkey Kong Bananza at No.3, with Pokémon Legends: Z‑A close behind at No.4. Capcom performs strongly with Resident Evil Requiem at No.6, Resident Evil Generation Pack back in at No.7, and Monster Hunter Stories 3 at No.9, while high‑profile third‑party titles such as Final Fantasy VII Remake Intergrade (No.12), Assassin’s Creed Shadows (No.18), and Hades II (No.19) highlight the platform’s wider appeal.

The 3DS chart is a pure nostalgia snapshot, with all four entries re‑entering the rankings: Persona Q: Shadow of the Labyrinth at No.1, Dragon Quest VIII at No.2, Animal Crossing: Happy Home Designer at No.3, and Yo‑kai Watch at No.4. It reflects a small but persistent retro audience that continues to keep the handheld’s legacy alive.

The Top 40 Entertainment Software for the Week Ending 21st March, courtesy of GfK Entertainment and Nielsen IQ, can be found below: