A highly sought-after copy of Super Mario Bros. has been auctioned for a record-breaking $3 million USD.
The sale was handled by Heritage Auctions last Friday, and this particular edition of Super Mario Bros. earned a 9.6 A++ assessment from the grading firm PSA. It also beat the previous auction high of $2 million, which was established in 2021.
So, what drives its value? Heritage Foundation’s write-up notes that this edition is treated as a “holy grail” by video game collectors. It was uncovered inside a Control Deck NES Bundle and stayed untouched for almost 40 years. The winning bidder will also receive the Control Deck NES bundle it arrived with—an extra perk for the anonymous buyer.
On top of that, this Super Mario Bros. release stands out as a distinctive version of the beloved classic. It was made during the game’s second production run, identifiable by a particular glossy sticker placed on the box.
“This unique variant has never been available in a public auction in sealed condition, highlighting its rarity,” the Heritage Foundation said in its auction summary. “The closest point of reference is the widely publicized 2019 private transaction of the WATA 9.4 A++ second-production copy—a milestone agreement that became the first six-figure video game sale and permanently shifted expectations about what historically significant games can command.
“That moment didn’t create the scarcity—it brought it to light, putting mainstream focus on the small number of early sealed copies that remain and on how exceptionally hard it is to find a certified glossy sticker second-production example. With just three confirmed, the chance to get one is extraordinarily narrow.”
PSA, the grading company that awarded this Super Mario Bros. copy its 9.6 A++, began handling video game ratings from the former WATA unit last year. In 2022, WATA’s founder ran into allegations tied to breaching company rules after selling graded stock, and the business has drawn ongoing criticism over time. That scrutiny stems from the fact that games graded by Wata have been auctioned through its longtime collaborator, Heritage Auctions, for steadily higher prices.
The stories of the two organizations are closely connected. Heritage Auctions co-founder James Halperin—who was fined $1.2 million for fraud back in 2004—had previously invested in WATA and served on an advisory board, and Haspel has been acquainted with Halperin for years.
Over time, Heritage Auctions has marketed a growing number of games that sold for record-high sums. A sealed copy of Super Mario Bros. rated 9.4 by WATA brought in $114,000 in 2020, and then in 2022, a sealed 9.6 WATA-rated copy of Super Mario Bros. sold for an eye-popping $660,000.