UK Chart: Dead Space 3 is first, but sells 26 percent less than Dead Space 2

EA's micro-transaction tinged horror shooter Dead Space 3 has blasted its way to the top of the UK charts, though sales were down 26 percent compared to its predecessor.

Dead Space 2 launched at a similar period in 2011, though the third game has garnered its fair share of criticism thanks to its choice to include an action-heavy co-op campaign and generous portions of microtransactions.

Chart positions 2 to 5 remained the same, with 2013's usual suspects filling out the list: FIFA 13, Call of Duty: Black Ops II, Far Cry 3 and Hitman: HD Trilogy.

Last week's chart winner, Ni No Kuni: Wrath of the White Witch, saw a 63% drop in sales and landed in sixth place.

The rest of the top 10 is also familiar. Need for Speed: Most Wanted is in seventh, Just Dance 4 eighth, Hitman: Absolution ninth and, thanks to the 3DS release of the game, Sonic & SEGA All-Stars Racing Transformed finishes tenth.

Elsewhere in the chart, and perhaps buoyed by Super Bowl XLVII, was Madden 13 in 19th place. DmC: Devil May Cry, which sat atop the chart but three weeks ago, slipped to 25th.

This week sees the release of Gearbox's Aliens: Colonial Marines on Tuesday February 12 - will it be able to knock Dead Space 3 off the top next week?

The Top 20 UK charts for the week ending February 9:

1. Dead Space 3
2. FIFA 13
3. Call of Duty: Black Ops II
4. Far Cry 3
5. Hitman: HD Trilogy
6. Ni No Kuni: Wrath of the White Witch
7. Need for Speed: Most Wanted
8. Just Dance 4
9. Hitman: Absolution
10. Sonic and SEGA All-Stars Racing Transformed
11. The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim
12. Assassin's Creed 3
13. Halo 4
14. Forza Horizon
15. Skylanders Giants
16. Football Manager 2013
17. LEGO The Lord of the Rings
18. LEGO Batman 2: DC Super Heroes
19. Madden NFL 13
20. Forza Motorsport 4