Video game memorabilia is some of the most sought out merchandise among collectors. For those who have been keeping up with gaming news, it was only a few days ago that a sealed copy of The Legend of Zelda sold for $870,000, becoming the most valuable video game collectible ever. But now, its reign at the top has come to an end, as a copy of Super Mario 64 has now overtaken that title.
An unopened copy of Super Mario 64 sold for $1.56 million on Sunday, breaking the world record for the most expensive video game auction, according to Dallas-based Heritage Auctions. The previous record was held by the aforementioned The Legend of Zelda, when an unopened copy of the game for the original Nintendo sold for $870,000 last Friday. The copy was graded by Wata as a 9.8 A++ Sealed. While this grading would mean a lot for any collector’s game, Super Mario 64 was and still is one of the most revolutionary games ever made.
In a statement released by Heritage Auctions, Video Games Specialist Valarie McLeckie spoke about this momentous achievement in history. “It seems impossible to overstate the importance of this title, not only to the history of Mario and Nintendo, but to video games as a whole. This is Mario’s debut appearance in a 3D world, and it was the most popular — best-selling — video game for the N64. Considering this, and the fact that there are fewer than five sealed in this grade according to Wata, this copy is a true prize for any serious collector.”
It’s currently unknown who purchased the vintage Super Mario 64 cartridge, and Heritage Auctions hasn’t disclosed the identity of the seller. Once the identity is revealed though, plenty of people are sure to flock to them with countless questions about how it feels to own such an important piece of video game history. While a high grading does not always guarantee a high final bidding price, having a copy of a game with a 9.8 grade definitely helps. Especially when there are less than 5 in existence. While Heritage Auctions no longer has any other video game auctions happening now, but if one thing is for certain, it’s that you truly never know what piece of history is going to be found in the wild.