UK Chart Analysis: It’s a Super Nintendo Party as Mario Kart World, Donkey Kong Bananza and Jamboree TV Dominate on Switch 2

This week saw the release of Super Mario Party Jamboree Nintendo Switch 2 Edition + Jamboree TV (easy for you to say!). Here in the UK, data tracker extraordinaire – NielsenIQ/GfK Entertainment – has confirmed that the updated version has helped lift the multiplayer favourite right back up to the higher end of the list for the week ending 26th July. In fact, all the way from last week’s No.24 position on the Top 40 Entertainment Software chart to No.4 now, with the system split being 71% to 29% in favour of the Switch 2 upgraded edition. Due to there being an upgrade path from the Switch original to Switch 2 expanded iteration, it means that sometimes the cheaper option for consumers (as with both Zelda adventures) is to buy the Switch original and get the booster pack to unlock the Switch 2 extras.

As a result, Super Mario Party cannot claim the No.1 spot, but actually Donkey Kong Bananza isn’t the King of Swing anymore as it slips one spot down to No.2, being replaced by Mario Kart World as it speeds past to reclaim the top position. Last week, it was confirmed that, “Donkey Kong Bananza is the largest Donkey Kong launch week on record, in terms of revenue – outselling even DKC Returns on Wii from way back in Dec 2010. It also sold 5.4 times more units than Donkey Kong Country Returns HD on Switch did in its first week,” which is no mean feat at all. It may seem like interest is dwindling, but actually Donkey Kong fever in general has seen the recent Switch HD remaster of the Wii classic re-enter the Top 40 at No.37 (No.13 on the Switch-specific Top 20).

Hogwarts Legacy continues to push onwards, still popular due to good word of mouth in general but also the hype surrounding J.K. Rowling’s immensely popular characters coming back in TV form soon. Currently, it is Switch (37% share) and PS5 (33%) being the main platforms of choice, although the Switch 2 version isn’t doing too badly for itself, holding a 16% total cut of the pie (also making it this week’s fourth best-selling Switch 2 title). Street Fighter 6: Years 1-2 Fighters Edition is down seven to No.38 on the main Top 40 (No.5 on the Switch 2 chart), whilst The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom is at No.20 (down from No.13), but only features higher due to it being on both Switch and Switch 2 (No.12 on the former system’s Top 20, No.6 on the latter’s chart). With Bravely Default: Flying Fairy HD Remaster slipping two on the Switch 2 list to No.7, and not making the main Top 40, it means much weaker than expected Switch 2 debuts for WWE 2K25 (No.8), No Sleep for Kaname Date – From AI: The Somnium Files (No.11) and Wild Hearts S (No.14 – although this only had a limited retail release). Civilization VII sadly reclaims its mantle of being the weakest Switch 2 game of the past seven days, now residing at No.20 on the Switch 2 chart, having slipped five due to new entries elsewhere and sales of Raidou Remastered: The Mystery of the Soulless Army marginally picking up.

Elsewhere in the all formats scene, Call of Duty: Black Ops 6 is thriving – up four to No.5 on the Top 40 – thanks to PS5 retail activity (98% share), Minecraft on Switch is up one to No.6 (No.2 on the Switch-only list), EA Sports FC 25 stutters a little, slipping three to No.7, with the Switch version leading the pack thanks to a 56% slice, followed by PS5 with 29% of the sales. Mario Kart 8 Deluxe just keeps on going as clearly Mario Kart World fans are hungry for more racing goodness, and backwards compatibility helps considerably. The highly rated Wuchang: Fallen Feathers slams home at No.9, with PS5 taking a 95% chunk of total sales, and promotional activity launches Mortal Kombat 11 Ultimate right back up from No.25 to No.10 thanks to PS4 and PS5 sales.

The full Entertainment Software Top 40 can be seen below: