The weekly UK physical games chart saw Insomniac’s Marvel’s Spider-Man 2 easily securing the top spot, according to GI.biz head Chris Dring.
Marvel’s Spider-Man 2 became the fourth biggest launch of 2023 behind The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom, EA Sports FC, and Hogwarts Legacy. However, Dring noted that launch sales are 20% down compared to last year’s God of War Ragnarok. Granted, that game launched for PlayStation 4 as well, but the journalist confirmed Sony Santa Monica’s game still performed a bit better than Marvel’s Spider-Man 2 even when considering just PS5 sales.
Likewise, the game’s physical sales in the UK are ‘significantly down’ compared to the first installment from 2018. However, the importance of digital sales has skyrocketed in the last few years, making it difficult to pass final judgment until that data is available.
Marvel’s Spider-Man 2 launched last Friday on PlayStation 5. Here’s my review (8.5/10), in case you missed it last week:
Marvel’s Spider-Man 2 feels like the perfect, albeit safe, evolution of the formula first introduced with the 2018 game. With a highly emotional story, much-improved traversal, great visuals and performance, and industry-leading accessibility, this sequel is very likely to win over most fans of the original. However, a bigger shake-up may be needed for the inevitable Spider-Man 3.
After Marvel’s Spider-Man 2, Nintendo’s Super Mario Bros. Wonder secured the second spot on the weekly UK chart. The 2D platform game sold very well, making it the third-biggest launch for the platform series after Super Mario Odyssey and Super Mario 3D All-Stars. Again, though, that’s just considering physical sales; with the addition of digital, it’s possible Super Mario Bros. Wonder set a new record for total launch sales in the franchise. Still, it was 62% down compared to The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom.
Super Mario Bros. Wonder got a 9.5/10 score in Nathan’s review:
Super Mario Bros. Wonder is the plumber’s best platformer this generation. We haven’t been able to say that of a 2D Mario for a long time, but this game measures up to the best and most beloved side-scrollers Nintendo has ever made, delivering joyously-creative level design and rock-solid platforming in a gorgeous wrapper. Get ready to kick it old school, because 2D Mario is back on top of the flagpole.
Following Marvel’s Spider-Man 2 and Super Mario Bros. Wonder, the weekly UK Top 5 was completed by EA Sports FC, Sonic Superstars, and Assassin’s Creed Mirage.
