Nintendo Classic is the most expensive video game in the world

When it comes to record-breaking video game prices, Nintendo is at the forefront. First and foremost, of course, Mario whose past appearances on home consoles can now be worth a real fortune.

The crown holding the title “most expensive video game in the world” lends, is passed on again. However, only from a 3D plumber to a 2D plumber, because Super Mario ascends the throne again. After Link had to admit defeat to a rare variant of Super Mario 64 in July 2021, it is now a cartridge of the NES classic Super Mario Bros. from 1985which surpassed the previous leader’s $1.56 million.

The website Rally is offering shares of stock for collectibles and announced via Twitter that an anonymous buyer is buying the game for the Record total of $2 million bought:

Update from July 12, 2021:

The most expensive game in the world is crowned – and overtaken by Super Mario

Even the starting bids for the sealed version of the NES classic were 6 figures and The Legend of Zelda from 1987 was already scratching the million mark at the end of the auction. But a Super Mario game was to exceed that a short time later.

From the special “NES-R” variant of The Legend of Zelda only a few cartridges were made in the few months of production in 1987, which is why the well-preserved example started at an auction for over 100.00 dollars. In the end, the bid went to a bid of $870,000an absolute record sum.

This broke the record from April 2021, in which a rare version of Super Mario Bros. for $ 660,000 was bought, also at the online auction house Heritage Auctions.

Super Mario reclaims the throne

A good two days after Zelda secured the record as the most expensive video game at auction, Super Mario came back, of course with another absolute classic of the series. The sealed version of Super Mario 64 became auctioned for an unbelievable 1.56 million dollars. The prices for rare video games and trading cards are currently exploding enormously.

Original message from July 6, 2021:

$110,000 Zelda Game Revealed: “The Holy Grail of Games”

The prices of a Blue Mauritius do not (yet) reach collectors’ items from the world of video games, but they are in no way inferior to postage stamps in terms of rarity. A real rarity, for example, is a special cartridge of the original The Legend of Zelda from 1987.

Of course, it’s not just any cartridge of the first The Legend of Zelda from 1987 Heritage Auctions website bid for an extremely rare version of Link’s debut. Before you turn the mattress over and start counting the current bid is $110,000 and the auction runs until July 9, 2021. Maybe you’d rather look under the couch for some change.

Not just any Zelda game

The Legend of Zelda was released in Japan in 1986 and then in Europe a year later. The version currently being auctioned at Heritage Auctions bears the suffix “NES-R” and became only produced a few months at the end of 1987until they then from the “Rev A” version was replaced. The cartridge is so rare that the online auction house believes it has never offered such a version of the game and doesn’t expect to be able to do it again for years to come.

Heritage Auctions calls the “NES-R” cartridge a “Holy Grail Among Games” and emphasizes not only the rarity but also the video game cultural significance.

It’s even rarer

To be worth millions like some postage stamps, it takes a little more than that. Maybe a different version of the Zelda cartridge will make it. According to Heritage Auctions, there are of the “NES TM” variant just a sealed copy. This variant is the first production of The Legend of Zelda.

But it’s still a long way to the stamps. Only in June 2021 a Red Mauritius auctioned for 8.1 million euros. However, the stamp had 140 years more time to gain rarity and become a coveted collector’s item. However, The Legend of Zelda is already in demand, because at least someone is willing to pay 110,000 dollars. By the way, there is a surcharge of 20 percent on top of the bid – just so you know for your calculation.