A sealed copy of Super Mario Bros. for the Nintendo Entertainment System (NES) has sold for $3 million at Heritage Auctions, making it the most expensive video game ever sold at public auction.
The sale took place on June 12 during Heritage’s Video Games Signature Auction in Dallas, Texas, and it officially breaks the previous record of $2 million, which was set in a private sale in 2021.
What makes this copy especially valuable is its condition and rarity. It carries a PSA 9.6 A++ grade, which is an extremely high preservation score for a game that is nearly 40 years old. Among the three known sealed copies from this specific production run, it is the highest graded example ever recorded.
The cartridge is part of Nintendo’s early 1986 second production run, identified by a gloss sticker used during that period. This particular variant has never appeared in sealed condition at a public auction before, making it even more significant for collectors.
Its discovery also adds to its value. The game was found only a few months ago inside a brand-new, unopened NES Control Deck bundle. That means it had remained untouched since the 1980s, still sealed inside its original retail packaging.
Collectors consider this type of preservation extremely rare because it confirms the game was never opened, played, or displayed. Instead, it stayed inside the console box for decades, preserving its factory condition almost perfectly.
Heritage Auctions described the sale as a landmark moment for gaming collectibles. According to Evan Masingill, the company’s Consignment Director for Video Games, the combination of condition and history makes it one of the most important finds in the hobby’s history.
“It is only appropriate that the most significant video game in the world should bring the more impressive result in the history of the hobby,” said Evan Masingill, Heritage’s Consignment Director for Video Games. “The remarkable back story — it was just discovered a few months ago inside a brand-new Control Deck NES console bundle, meaning it has not been touched for nearly 40 years — makes the result even more impressive.”
Beyond its auction value, Super Mario Bros. holds major cultural importance. The game helped revive the video game industry after the 1983 crash and became one of the most influential titles in gaming history. Its role in shaping Nintendo’s global dominance adds to its appeal among collectors today.
With this sale, the cartridge now stands as the most valuable video game ever sold, highlighting how nostalgia, rarity, and preservation can combine to create record-breaking demand in the collectibles market.
