Gaming giants EA and Activision have seen their eight year stranglehold of the gaming chart’s Christmas number one spot brought to an end with Bethesda’s Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim release becoming a shock Christmas All Format Gaming Chart topper.

Holding off stiff competition Skyrim took the coveted Christmas number one spot outselling Ubisoft’s family friendly and heavily advertised Just Dance 3 release by around 15,000 copies to push the activity based game into second spot.

With Activision widely expected to top the charts once again Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3 could only manage the final spot on the podium with EA’s FIFA 12 landing in fourth.

With Saints Row: The Third and Battlefield 3 heading into the festive period in spots five and six respectively, Assassin’s Creed: Revelations, Mario & Sonic London 2012 Olympic Games and Need for Speed: The Run fill positions seven through nine. Flying the flag for Nintendo Professor Layton and the Spectre’s Call rounded out the top 10.

What is your must-have game for the festive period be it console, app-based or board? Let us know via the comments box below.

Via: CVG