It’s not always easy to get old statistics and other video game sales rankings in France. However, this data is well stored and is sometimes shared in other countries. A few days before the passage of Santa Claus for the year 2021, our neighbors on the other side of the Channel invite us to rediscover the fashion games at Christmas of the last 37 years.

The list of games that finished at No.1 on the latest pre-Christmas charts since 1984 in the UK has just been revealed. This list, shared on Twitter by Christopher Dring of the GamesIndustry.biz site, was communicated by the GfK institute.

The latter grouped the number 1 of the Christmas lists registered by himself and by those of his predecessors. In the UK, being number one at Christmas is a highly coveted place in the music world. Commercially speaking, it is also a desirable place on the gaming side.

US publishers effective at Christmas in the UK

Here is the full list without further ado.

• 1984: Ghostbusters (Activision)
• 1985: Commando (Elite)
• 1986: gauntlet (US gold)
• 1987: Out of the Race (SEGA-US Gold)
• 1988: Operation Wolf (Ocean)
• 1989: Chase HQ (ocean)
• 1990: Teenage Mutant Heroes Turtles (Mirrorsoft)
• 1991: WWF WrestleMania (Ocean)
• 1992: Sonic the Hedgehog 2 (SEGA)
• 1993: FIFA International Soccer (EA)
• 1994: FIFA Soccer 95 (EA)
• 1995: FIFA Soccer 96 (EA)
• 1996: FIFA 97 (EA)
• 1997: FIFA: Road to the World Cup 98 (EA)
• 1998: The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time (Nintendo)
• 1999: Tomb Raider 4: The Last Revelation (Eidos)
• 2000: Who Wants To Be A Millionaire? (Eidos)
• 2001: Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone (EA)
• 2002: Grand Theft Auto: Vice City (Take-Two Interactive)
• 2003: Medal of Honor: Rising Sun (EA)
• 2004: Need for Speed: Underground 2 (EA)
• 2005: Need for Speed: Most Wanted (EA)
• 2006: FIFA 07 (EA)
• 2007: Call of Duty 4: Modern Warfare (Activision)
• 2008: FIFA 09 (EA)
• 2009: Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2 (Activision)
• 2010: Call of Duty: Black Ops (Activision)
• 2011: The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim (Bethesda)
• 2012: Call of Duty: Black Ops II (Activision)
• 2013: FIFA 14 (EA)
• 2014: Call of Duty: Advanced Warfare (Activision)
• 2015: Call of Duty: Black Ops III (Activision)
• 2016: Call of Duty: Infinite Warfare (Activision)
• 2017: Call of Duty: WWII (Activision)
• 2018: Red Dead Redemption 2 (Interactive Take-Two)
• 2019: Call of Duty: Modern Warfare (Activision)
• 2020: Assassin’s Creed Valhalla (Ubisoft)
• 2021: FIFA 22 (EA)

To be as precise as possible, it should be noted that these statistics only take into account physical sales. Additionally, the No. 1s listed here were in the latest rankings released prior to December 25 of their respective year.

Discreet Nintendo games at Christmas across the channel

And if some of the titles mentioned here have managed to reach this place by being released on a single machine, it is in most cases of multiplatform games. For example, FIFA International Soccer was # 1 in Christmas sales in 1993, it was only released on Mega Drive. Sales of the 1990 number 1, Teenage Mutant Hero Turtles, on the other hand, were recorded on seven machines.

In total, two licenses share the No. 1 spot for Christmas “of all time.” In fact, the Call of Duty and FIFA games have found themselves at the top of the rankings nine times just before Christmas in the UK. Across the channel, the leading Christmas publisher is Electronic Arts. The American publisher’s products have been to the top of the ranking 13 times for this special week since 1984. Activision follows with 10 at No. 1.

What do you think of this Christmas list? Does she surprise you? Did you expect to see other games on it? Does it bring you any memories? Do you think that an equivalent list for France would resemble that of our neighbors on the other side of the Channel? Tell us all about it in the comments below.