The best-selling video game of 2019: FIFA 2020, Call of Duty: Modern Warfare and Mario all set for Christmas battle

FIFA 20andCall of Duty: Modern Warfareare set to battle it out to be 2019's top-selling game, according to gaming experts at Argos.

The leading video gaming retailer analysed sales data going back to 2013, with more than 10,000 different games included in the research.

FIFA 20 is released on Friday 27 September andavailable for pre-ordernow. FIFA has topped the annual Argos gaming sales chart every year since 2014, except in 2017 when Call of Duty WWII ruled the roost. The margin of victory was just two per cent, meaning the latest iterations of the EA and Activision titles are set for a titanic battle in this year's sales war.

First, however, they'll need to overhaul the massive sales of current 2019 bestsellers, Minecraft and Mario Kart 8 Deluxe, which have both generated seven-figure revenue at Argos alone between January and August.

Peter Wray, Argos Buying Manager for Video Gaming, said: 'FIFA 20 and the latest Call of Duty game are set for a nail-biting battle to be crowned 2019's top game. FIFA has the initial advantage, being released a month earlier on three consoles as opposed to two for COD. However, just two years ago the COD franchise swept to victory despite a November release.

'This Christmas, we also expect impressive sales for Pokémon Sword and Shield, Ghost Recon Breakpoint, Doom Eternal and Need for Speed: Heat. The last film in the most recent Star Wars trilogy will boost interest in Star Wars Jedi: Fallen Order, which is out this November, while Metal Gear fans will be out in their droves to purchase Hideo Kojima's PS4 title, Death Stranding.'

Top ten best-selling video games of 2019 so far:

1 - Minecraft - Nintendo Switch/PS4

2 - Mario Kart 8 Deluxe - Nintendo Switch

3 - Super Mario Bros. U Deluxe - Nintendo Switch

4 - Grand Theft Auto V - PS4/Xbox One

5 - Days Gone By - PS4

6 - Tom Clancy's The Division 2 - PS4/Xbox One

7 - FIFA 19 - PS4/Xbox One

8 - Super Smash Bros Ultimate - Nintendo Switch

9 - Red Dead Redemption 2 - PS4/Xbox One

10 - Marvel's Spider-Man - PS4

Neither FIFA nor COD can claim to be the biggest game of the 2010s, however. That honour goes to Grand Theft Auto V, while Minecraft in second place has racked up consistent sales over more than half a decade.

Peter Wray continued: 'What's clear from the best-sellers since 2013 is that being available on multiple consoles is highly beneficial to overall sales. However, major games available on one console such as Super Mario Odyssey on the Nintendo Switch, Forza Horizon 3 on Xbox One and Marvel's Spider-Man on PS4 still generated phenomenal numbers.'

Top 15 best-selling video games at Argos since 2013:

1 - Grand Theft Auto V - PS3/PS4/Xbox 360/Xbox One

2 - Minecraft - Nintendo Switch/PS4/Xbox 360/Xbox One

3 - FIFA 15 - Wii/3DS/PS VitaPS3/PS4/Xbox 360/Xbox One

4 - FIFA 14 - Wii/3DS/PS Vita/PS3/PS4/Xbox 360/Xbox One

5 - FIFA 17 - PS3/PS4/Xbox 360/Xbox One

6 - Call of Duty WWII - PS4/Xbox One

7 - FIFA 18 - Nintendo Switch/PS3/PS4/Xbox 360/Xbox One

8 - FIFA 16 - PS3/PS4/Xbox 360/Xbox One

9 - FIFA 19 - Nintendo Switch/PS3/PS4/Xbox 360/Xbox One

10 - Red Dead Redemption 2 - PS4/Xbox One

11 - Mario Kart 8 Deluxe - Nintendo Switch

12 - Forza Horizon 3 - Xbox One

13 - Super Mario Odyssey - Nintendo Switch

14 - Marvel's Spider-Man - PS4

15 - The SIMS 4 - PS4/Xbox One/PC

Argos's top Christmas games are available for pre-order onargos.co.uk.