UK game sales chart: the multiformat top 10 best selling video games in the UK. Data supplied by UKIE.
1. Call Of Duty: Black Ops (▲2)
Bolstered, no doubt, by what analysts are called the world's biggest entertainment launch, Call Of Duty: Black Ops was bound to be a huge seller based on the power of its brand alone. The fact that it's actually a great game into the bargain almost feels like icing. Players have a campaign mode to blaze through, which while short, is far better written and more engrossing that those of any of Black Ops's predecessors. However, the multiplayer is what most punters stumped up their cash for, and in this area, Black Ops doesn't disappoint. Aside from lengthy list of match types, perks, maps, weapons and huge levels of customisation available, Black Ops boasts its own currency system (COD Points - CP), new Wager Matches - in which players can bet their CP against all comers - and Combat Training, an introduction to the multiplayer experience for players who always found the online arena too intimidating. Top that off with some of the best shooter action available and Black Ops earns its status in a walk as one of the best releases of 2010.
2. Fifa 11 (▲4)
The football season may have been underway for a few months now, but for millions of gamers it began in October with the release of EA Sports's magnificent Fifa 11. The engine has been tweaked and polished to give the on-pitch action a greater sense of realism; ball physics are far better, ping pong passing has been eliminated and players look and act more like their real-world counterparts. With smooth online play which allows for 11 versus 11 player matches, a condensed player and manager mode (which thankfully isn't broken) and gameplay that hits the sweet-spot between reality and fantasy, Fifa 11 is arguably the best football sim on the market.
3. Assassin's Creed: Brotherhood (-3)
Initially feared to be an un-numbered stop-gap in Ubisoft's open-world adventure series, Brotherhood has actually turned out to be the strongest title in the franchise to date. The platforming puzzle sections are outstanding and combat now enables players to flow between opponents, cutting a bloody swathe through their enemies. The graphics and soundtrack remain top-notch and the story-telling is superb. Assassin's Creed: Brotherhood is a fine entry in Ubisoft's ongoing epic of revenge, assassinations and... er... exploration of previous lives through cybernetics.
4. Gran Turismo 5 (▼1)
The racer the world has been waiting for; Gran Turismo 5 throws down the gauntlet to the entire racing genre with its eye-popping graphics, intricate gameplay and deep and involving content. This is the video game petrol heads and racing fans will love - which in a way may limit its appeal somewhat. The wait may have overblown the hardcore's expectations but for the rest of us, GT5 could just be all the driving game we'll ever need.
5. Just Dance 2 (-5)
The sequel to Ubisoft's world-conquering party title looks set to stay in the charts for the forseeable future. The game's song-list is pretty varied and it comes with a duet feature which allows players to perform complimentary moves in both two and four player mode. It might not win over the shooter/hard-core/testosterone crowd, but as party games go, this isn't half bad.
6. Michael Jackson: The Experience (new entry)
Dancing games are always a hit at parties and Michael Jackson's hit-making track-record needs no introduction, so really, it was just a matter of time before a games developer put the pair together. While Michael Jackson: The Experience has the odd response issue, it's a lot of fun to play with friends - particularly if you're a fan of the King of Pop's back catalogue. Jackson's fans can mirror his moves and enjoy his music too.
7. Need For Speed: Hot Pursuit (▼6)
Hot Pursuit is something of a return to form for the Need For Speed franchise. EA's premier racer has ditched the bling bling street racing scene and instead offers players smooth simulation mixed with arcade madness. The result is an adrenaline-fuelled epxerience in which players pit themselves against the AI or each other in cops vs ne'er-do-wells road battles. The gameplay mixes driving skills and the tactical deployment of power-ups into a glorious cocktail of road mayhem. One of the better driving games of 2010.
8. Wii Party (▼7)
Nintendo hope to occupy your post-Turkey slump this Christmas with its latest family-friendly title. Send your Miis into competition in a digital board game, taking in some daft minigames along the way. There's too much reliance on luck, perhaps, with dice rolls dictating the flow of the game, but the minigames are easy-going fun and there's a sprinkling of great ideas. Plus, it's one of the few games you can have your Granny face off against Darth Vader in a present-stacking competition.
10. Professor Layton & The Lost Future (▲11)
Fans of the gentlemanly Professor and his sidekick Luke will know what to expect from this absolutely delightful third entry in the series. For the rest of you, here's the pitch; Professor Layton and his apprentice are catapulted into a steampunk future London in the clutches of an evil mastermind. Along the way they meet tons of eccentric characters armed with loads of puzzles ranging maths-based conundrums to clever word games, to picture puzzles to jigsaws and more. As with other Layton titles, the visuals and soundtrack are lovely, the story is whacky and engrossing and the whole package is bursting at the seams with charm. An essential purchase for all ages.
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