Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2 Was 2022’s Best-Selling Game in the US, Splatoon 3 in Japan

Meanwhile, to no one's surprise, FIFA 23 was the best-selling game of the year in the United Kingdom.

Posted By | On 20th, Dec. 2022

Call of Duty Modern Warfare 2 - Multiplayer

2022 is winding down, which means the next couple of weeks will be all about taking a look back at the last 12 months and studying how the games industry fared across multiple fronts. GamesIndustry has published its yearly wrap-up to that end, and along with plenty of other intriguing data, it also reveals what the best-selling games of the year were in three major regions- the US, the UK, and Japan (courtesy of sales data from the NPD Group, Gfk, and Famitsu respectively). 

In the US, Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2 was the best-selling game of the year, though that shouldn’t surprise anyone at this point. The shooter performed well in the UK as well, coming in at No. 2. The UK’s top-placed game isn’t going to come as a shock to anyone either- like its predecessors, FIFA 23 was the region’s best-selling game of the year. It also ranked at No. 9 in the US. 

In Japan, meanwhile, Splatoon 3 topped the charts, which was to be expected after the game’s tremendous launch in the region. It even managed to outsell Pokemon Scarlet and Violet and Pokemon Legends: Arceuswhich slotted in at No. 2 and No. 3 respectively. Both Pokemon games also saw strong sales in the US and the UK, with Legends taking sixth and third place in the US and the UK respectively, and Scarlet and Violet coming in at No. 7 and No. 5 in the regions. 

LEGO Star Wars: The Skywalker Sagameanwhile, took the No. 4 spot in the US and the No. 6 spot in the UK, while Horizon Forbidden West saw strong sales as well, coming in at No. 4 in the UK and No. 8 in the US. Then there’s Elden Ringwhich took second place in the US, and tenth place in both Japan and the UK. God of War Ragnarok took fifth place in the US and eighth place in the UK. 

You can check out the full charts below. 

No.USUK (physical sales only)Japan (physical sales only)
1.Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2FIFA 23Splatoon 3
2.Elden RingCall of Duty: Modern Warfare 2Pokemon Scarlet and Violet
3.Madden NFL 23Pokemon Legends: ArceusPokemon Legends: Arceus
4.LEGO Star Wars: The Skywalker SagaHorizon Forbidden WestKirby and the Forgotten Land
5.God of War RagnarokPokemon Scarlet and VioletNintendo Switch Sports
6.Pokemon Legends: ArceusLEGO Star Wars: The Skywalker SagaMario Kart 8 Deluxe
7.Pokemon Scarlet and VioletMario Kart 8 DeluxeMinecraft: Nintendo Switch Edition
8.Horizon Forbidden WestGod of War RagnarokMario Party Superstars
9.FIFA 23Nintendo Switch SportsSuper Smash Bros. Ultimate
10.MLB The Show 22 (Xbox and Switch digital sales not included)Elden RingElden Ring

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