A rare, factory-sealed copy of Nintendo’s iconic Super Mario Bros. has shattered records after selling for an astonishing US$3 million (RM23.4 million) at auction, making it the most expensive video game ever sold publicly.
The historic sale took place during the first dedicated video game auction organised by Heritage Auctions in Dallas, Texas.
What makes the game so valuable is its extreme rarity and near-perfect condition.
According to auction details, the cartridge is an early second-print edition of the Nintendo Entertainment System (NES) version of Super Mario Bros., featuring a glossy seal sticker introduced by Nintendo in early 1986.
Experts believe it is the oldest known sealed copy of this specific edition in existence.
The game received an exceptional grading score of PSA 9.6 A++, placing it among the finest preserved video game collectibles ever evaluated.
Reports indicate that only three sealed copies of this version are known to exist worldwide.
Compared with the other two copies, which received lower preservation ratings, this particular cartridge stood out for maintaining an almost flawless condition despite being nearly four decades old.
Adding to its remarkable story, the game was reportedly discovered only a few months ago inside a brand-new, unopened NES console bundle, commonly known among collectors as a “Control Deck”.
The cartridge had remained untouched inside the sealed console package for almost 40 years, preserving it in its original factory condition.
Collectors described the discovery as an extraordinary rarity within the retro gaming community, where finding a completely untouched item from the early days of Nintendo is considered exceptionally rare.
The record-breaking sale highlights the growing demand for vintage video game collectibles, with rare and well-preserved gaming memorabilia increasingly attracting serious investors and collectors worldwide.
The US$3 million price tag now stands as the highest amount ever paid for a video game in a public auction, setting a new benchmark for the global collectibles market.
