The gaming industry, fresh off the explosive chaos of 2025, has barely had a moment to catch its digital breath before being thrust into the first major sales battle of 2026. It was a month that promised a cavalcade of new contenders, each vying for the crown in a marketplace still echoing with last year's hits. Yet, in a twist as unpredictable as a rogue AI in a simulation, the throne was not seized by a newcomer, but reclaimed by a familiar, grizzled veteran from the past.
Despite the hype surrounding several fresh-faced releases, it was the previous year's Call of Duty: Modern Warfare III that stood triumphant atop Circana's best-selling software charts for January 2026. This was no mere victory; it was a statement, a testament to the franchise's enduring power, clinging to the top spot like a digital barnacle on the hull of the industry. The shooter's success proved that in the volatile sea of gaming trends, some titans are simply unsinkable.
Hot on its heels, however, was the true spectacle: the debutantes. Tekken 8 landed a flawless uppercut to claim second place, its launch as impactful as a tectonic plate shifting beneath a city. Right behind it, in a pairing as bizarrely compelling as a ballet performed by demolition robots, were Suicide Squad: Kill the Justice League and Persona 3: Reload, securing third and fourth respectively. While the latter two technically saw their standard editions launch in early February, Circana's tracking period—stretching from late December 2025 through early February 2026—allowed them to make their grand, chart-topping entrance. This tracking quirk created a temporal anomaly on the charts, a glitch in the matrix where future releases battled past legends.
The intrigue didn't stop there. Like a Dragon: Infinite Wealth swam into the seventh position, while the remastered The Last of Us: Part II experienced a resurgence so dramatic it catapulted all the way to ninth place, its emotional narrative hitting players anew like a perfectly composed symphony of sorrow.
The Underdogs' Ascent 🎯
Venturing beyond the elite top ten, two other January warriors carved their names into the extended list of twenty. Prince of Persia: The Lost Crown made a stylish debut at thirteenth, its time-bending acrobatics earning a respectable foothold. Meanwhile, Jujutsu Kaisen: Cursed Clash managed to sneak in at nineteenth, a stealthy entrance for a title based on supernatural clashes.
A scene from the chaotic third-place finisher, Suicide Squad: Kill the Justice League.
A glaring, buzzing absence, however, was the phenomenon known as Palworld. Despite viral reports of it capturing over 25 million creatures (and players) since its late-2025 release, it was nowhere to be found on the official charts. Circana Analyst Mat Piscatella clarified this digital ghosting: the game's publisher, Pocketpair, is not a participating member in the Digital Leader Panel (DLP), meaning its staggering digital sales figures existed in a shadow realm, invisible to the traditional tracking metrics. Its success was a roaring storm just outside the chart's window.
The Champions' Roster: January 2026 🏆
Here is the definitive ranking of the month's commercial gladiators:
| Rank | Title | Note |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Call of Duty: Modern Warfare III | The reigning (and seemingly relentless) champion |
| 2 | Tekken 8 | The powerhouse newcomer |
| 3 | Suicide Squad: Kill the Justice League | The controversial but successful anti-hero |
| 4 | Persona 3: Reload | The beloved classic, reborn |
| 5 | Madden NFL 24 | The perennial sports staple |
| 6 | Hogwarts Legacy | The magical evergreen title |
| 7 | Like a Dragon: Infinite Wealth | The eccentric RPG sensation |
| 8 | EA Sports FC 24 | The other football giant |
| 9 | The Last of Us: Part II (Remastered) | The emotional juggernaut, resurgent |
| 10 | Marvel’s Spider-Man 2 | The web-slinging favorite |
Bold indicates a January 2026 release or re-release.
The month of January 2026 proved to be a fascinating ecosystem. It was a marketplace where the old guard could still flex its muscles with the force of a hydraulic press, while new IPs and reboots fought for space like hyper-evolved fauna in a crowded jungle. The absence of a record-shattering title like Palworld from the official ledger served as a stark reminder that the visible charts are but one layer of a deeply complex, multi-dimensional industry. The battle for players' time and wallets is fought on many fronts, and sometimes the most deafening victories happen just off the main stage.