Can you imagine spending even $1,000 on a game from over 30 years ago? This copy of Super Mario Bros. 3 sold for over $156,000.
Earlier this year, a copy of the original Super Mario Bros. game sold for $114,000, beating the previous record of $110,000.
Nintendo’s most recognizable figure knows how to rake in the big bucks.
On Friday, November 20, Heritage Auctions broke the most expensive video game record with their sealed, rare copy of the 1990 game.
Valarie McLeckie, Heritage Auctions’ Director of Video Games, said in a press release, “We couldn’t be more pleased about breaking the world record for the second time in the same year. That said, it’s no surprise that another Mario game, which so many of us grew up with, would set the new bar.”
Wata Games is a company that grades older video game titles on their condition. Previous record holder Super Mario Bros. achieved a score of Wata 9.0 A.
This auction copy of Super Mario Bros. 3 was in pristine, mint condition, and accomplished a score of Wata 9.2 A+.
For a video game to earn such a high score, it must have a unique quality. As expected, this game copy has a totally different quirk.
The cover art features Mario in his raccoon-eared cap, in the exact same pose. However, in the first game release, the word “Bros.” covered Mario’s white gloves, as opposed to older versions, where the word is centered above the character.
That wasn’t the only record this auction broke. 1998’s ‘Red Version’ Pokémon for Nintendo’s original GameBoy, graded Wata 9.8 A++, became the most expensive Pokémon title ever after being sold for $84,000 – four times higher than its estimated sale!
The auction was so successful it broke its own record and became the world’s first million-dollar video game auction.
