Once operating around 300 stores across the UK high street, Game has incurred a mighty fall from its heyday. As reported by the Retail Gazette, the video games retailer has confirmed its three remaining stores – in Dudley, Lancaster and Sutton – will stop trading from April 2026. Game stores closing down include: Merry Hill, Dudley; Nicholas Arcade, Lancaster; and Times Square Shopping Centre in Sutton.
This follows its move into administration earlier this year, which means the retailer entered a legal process because it can’t pay its debts. Its online business, however, will continue to operate – and there are more than 200 concession stores within the likes of Sports Direct and House of Fraser.
The challenge, however, continues as more consumers turn towards digital downloads to play a new game, which is very different from when the store first opened in 1990.
Perhaps due to the popularity in online shopping, another British high street retailer is seen less frequently on the high street, too.
Fashion retailer River Island closed down 27 stores at the beginning of this year all across the UK.
Even though the first store launched in 1988, and the brand became recognisable across the UK, its operation is now dwindling down. Site locations lost include Leeds Birstall Park, Surrey Quays in London, and Poole.
Full list of River Island stores that closed down:
- Aylesbury
- Burton upon Trent
- Leeds Birstall Park
- Lisburn
- Perth
- Surrey Quays
- Sutton Coldfield
- Taunton
- Wrexham
- Bangor Bloomfield
- Cumbernauld
- Hartlepool
- Kilmarnock
- Northwich
- St Helens
- Barnstaple
- Beckton
- Didcot
- Falkirk
- Gloucester
- Grimsby
- Hanley
- Hereford
- Kirkcaldy
- Oxford
- Poole
- Rochdale
Now fashion store QUIZ, first founded in 1993 in Scotland, is at risk of store closures since it entered administration in February 2026.
Not only that, Claire’s Accessories – which opened its first UK store in 1996 – entered administration and is now on the lookout for a buyer. If no one decides to buy the business, then 150 of the UK stores could be forced to close down.
Even charity shop Cancer Research UK is closing down up to 88 branches by May 2026.
