Sealed Super Mario Bros. Game Sells for $3 Million at Auction
A rare, sealed copy of the 1986 Super Mario Bros. for NES, still with its original sticker seal, fetched $3 million at Heritage Auctions. This particular copy, graded PSA 9.6 A++, is one of only three known second-production variants in this condition, highlighting its extreme rarity and historical significance in video game history.
Key points
- A second-production, sticker-sealed copy of Super Mario Bros. for the NES sold for $3 million at Heritage Auctions.
- The game, bundled with a launch edition NES Control Deck, has remained untouched and sealed for approximately 40 years.
- This specific 'glossy sticker seal' variant is exceptionally rare, with only three known examples existing.
- Graded PSA 9.6 A++, this copy is considered the finest known example of its kind.
- Heritage Auctions described the game as the 'most significant video game ever offered at auction' due to its condition and historical context.
A collector has paid $3 million for a remarkably preserved, sealed copy of the original Super Mario Bros. for the Nintendo Entertainment System. The auction, held by Heritage Auctions, saw the second-production game, still bearing its original glossy sticker seal, achieve a record-breaking price.
This particular copy is significant not only for its condition but also its rarity. Heritage Auctions stated that only three examples of this specific sticker-sealed variant are known to exist, and this one is considered the best, earning a PSA 9.6 A++ grade. The game was discovered in a box with an original launch edition NES Control Deck console, both in near-pristine, original packaging.
Experts believe the game's condition, dating back to the early days of Nintendo's US market expansion around 1986, makes it a pivotal artifact. The sale underscores the immense value placed on rare and historically significant video games among collectors, turning a piece of cultural history into a multi-million dollar asset.
Sources
The WireByte editorial team synthesises technology news from multiple primary sources, verifies the facts, and links every source. Articles are produced with AI assistance and reviewed under our editorial policy.