'Staggering' pristine copy of legendary game sells for record-breaking millions

Live updates

1. 1h ago

   Sealed *Super Mario Bros.* cartridge shatters $3M auction record as rarest NES collectible

   A sticker-sealed second-production-run *Super Mario Bros.* cartridge for the NES has sold for $3 million, the highest price ever recorded for a video game at auction. The cartridge, graded PSA 9.6, is one of only three known sealed copies from its 1986 production batch. Heritage Auctions confirmed the June 13 sale as the most significant video game auction to date. The market for pristine retro gaming collectibles continues to surge.

   What's confirmed:

   • A sealed second-production-run copy of *Super Mario Bros.* for the NES sold for $3 million at auction, surpassing all previous video game sales.
   • The cartridge was graded PSA 9.6 and is one of only three known sealed examples from its 1986 production batch.
   • Heritage Auctions confirmed the June 13, 2026, sale as the most significant video game ever offered at auction.
   • The record highlights the escalating demand for rare, pristine retro gaming collectibles.
   confidence 100%
2. 8h ago

   Sealed *Super Mario Bros.* NES copy sells for $3M—new video game record

   A sticker-sealed second-production run copy of *Super Mario Bros.* for the NES sold for $3 million at auction, surpassing all previous video game sales. The cartridge, graded PSA 9.6, was discovered in an unopened 1986 bundle and is one of only three known sealed examples from that production batch. The sale highlights the surging market for rare, pristine retro gaming collectibles. Heritage Auctions confirmed the transaction on June 13, 2026, calling it the most significant video game ever offered at auction.

   What's confirmed:

   • A sticker-sealed copy of *Super Mario Bros.* for the NES sold for $3 million at auction, setting a new world record for the most expensive video game ever sold.
   • The cartridge is a second-production run item graded PSA 9.6 and was discovered in an unopened 1986 bundle, one of only three known sealed examples from that batch.
   • The sale occurred on Friday, June 13, 2026, with Heritage Auctions confirming the transaction and describing it as the most significant video game ever offered at auction.
   • The cartridge was sold in its original packaging with an NES Control Deck console, and the plastic wrapper remained intact for 40 years.
   • The sticker seal was introduced briefly in 1986 before Nintendo switched to shrink-wrapping its games, making this copy particularly rare.
   confidence 100%
3. 13h ago

   Sealed 'Super Mario Bros.' smashes $3M record as most expensive game ever sold

   A sticker-sealed copy of *Super Mario Bros.* for the NES sold for $3 million at auction, surpassing all previous video game sales. The cartridge—graded PSA 9.6 A++—was discovered in an unopened 1986 bundle and is one of only three known sealed examples from its second production run. The sale underscores the soaring demand for pristine retro gaming collectibles. Heritage Auctions confirmed the transaction on June 13, 2026.

   What's confirmed:

   • A sealed copy of *Super Mario Bros.* sold for $3 million at auction, setting a new world record for the most expensive video game ever.
   • The cartridge was graded PSA 9.6 A++ and is one of only three known sealed examples from its second production run.
   • The sale occurred at Heritage Auctions on June 13, 2026, after nearly 40 years untouched inside an unopened NES console bundle.
   • The original retail price of the bundle in 1986 was $90, representing a 3,333,233% increase in value.
   • The game’s pristine, sticker-sealed condition—with no signs of play—contributed to its record-breaking price.

   Still unconfirmed:

   • The cartridge may have been part of a limited regional or promotional bundle, though specifics remain unverified.
   • Some reports suggest additional sealed copies could exist in private collections, though none have surfaced publicly.
   confidence 98%