Super Mario Bros Is Now The Most Expensive Video Game Ever Sold
- Lee Murray
- Jun 16, 2026
- 2 min read
On the 12th of June, a factory-sealed copy of the original Super Mario Bros for the Nintendo Entertainment System (NES) was sold at Heritage Auctions, fetching an unbelievable $3 million and securing its place in history as the most expensive video game ever sold.
What makes this game worth so much? Well, there are a few things to consider here.
The Rarity Factor
This isn't your standard copy of the iconic platformer. The game was awarded a near-perfect 9.8 A++ condition grade by WataGames, making it the highest-graded known example of this specific variant.
The cartridge hails from an incredibly brief "second-production run" in early 1986. During this narrow window, before Nintendo transitioned to their ubiquitous plastic shrink-wrap, the company used a distinct glossy sticker to seal its boxes. According to Heritage Auctions, only three sealed copies from this specific print run are known to exist globally, and this is the first to ever surface at a public auction.
A 40-Year Time Capsule
The game's immaculate preservation is largely due to where it spent the last four decades: hidden away inside an unopened launch-edition NES Control Deck console bundle.
Discovered just months prior to the historic auction, the cartridge had been entirely protected from light, handling and environmental damage since 1986. As a highly unusual bonus for the winning bidder, the $3 million price tag also included the unopened console bundle where the game was originally discovered (I mean, I think they deserve it!).
Smashing Previous Records
The sale completely redefines the upper limits of the retro gaming market, leaving previous milestones way behind.
Previously, the highest known price paid for a video game was a $2 million private sale of another Super Mario Bros variant in 2021. In the public auction space, the highest was a sealed copy of Super Mario 64, which sold for $1.56 million that same year. To put the climb in perspective, back in 2020 a sealed Super Mario Bros set a then-record at just $114,000.
After this record-breaking sale, I think we can say that highly coveted, culturally significant video games have firmly established themselves alongside fine art, vintage sports cards and rare comic books as elite, blue-chip collectibles. But it's a bit mad that no one will ever play it.
Discussion
No comments yet, be the first to say something!
Couldn’t load comments right now.