UK Charts: Burnout Paradise is back at No.1 after 10 years

We have a new Top Two in the UK charts this week, although perhaps the word 'new' is stretching things a little.

EA's Burnout Paradise Remastered is the best-selling physical game of the week, which means the title returns to No.1 ten years after it last claimed the top spot in January 2008.

The PS4 version accounted for 78% of all boxed sales for the game (the rest coming on Xbox One).

The racing game didn't need to sell especially well to top the charts, but it's an impressive achievement nonetheless. It marks the return of the Burnout series, which now has seen four games top the charts during its 17-year history. Along with the original Burnout Paradise, Burnout Revenge managed the same in 2005 as did Burnout 3: Takedown in 2004 (which is both the fastest and best-selling Burnout game released so far).

Down at No.2 is a new Nintendo Switch release in the form of Kirby Star Allies. It's actually the fastest-selling boxed Kirby game released ever, and there have been 19 Kirby retail titles since 1996.

Previously, the highest charting Kirby games was Kirby Triple Deluxe (2014) on 3DS and Kirby: Planet Robobot (2015) also on 3DS. Both games reached 15th place. The series has been gradually increasing in popularity, although the demand for new Switch products - coupled with a quiet release week - are two big reasons Star Allies has appeared so highly this week.

Other new titles include the Devil May Cry HD Collection receiving a boxed release on PS4 and Xbox One (which sees the game re-enter at No.13), while Maximum Games' Beast Quest debuts at No.35 on PS4 and Xbox One.

Last week's No.1, GTA V, suffers a 44% sales drop taking it down to No.4. Meanwhile, the surprise No.2 game - TT Isle of Man: Ride on the Edge - has disappeared from the Top 40 entirely (note: it does appear to be sold out at some retailers).

FIFA 18 rises a place to No.3 (despite losing 11% in sales week-on-week), and Mario Kart 8: Deluxe bounces right back into the Top Five despite a 5% sales dip.

Otherwise, it has been a quiet week for the market. The good news for boxed games retailers is things will pick up over the coming days, with the arrival of Detective Pikachu on 3DS, Sea of Thieves on Xbox One and Ni No Kuni II on PS4 - all this week.

That is the precursor for next week's big release, Far Cry 5 on PS4 and Xbox One.

Here is the UKIE/GfK Top Ten for the week ending March 17th.