Skip to main content
  1. Home
  2. Gaming
  3. News

Sealed Super Mario Bros. game auctioned for a whopping $660,000

By

A factory-sealed copy of Nintendo’s Super Mario Bros. game bought 35 years ago has fetched an incredible $660,000 at auction.

The sale was handled by Dallas-based Heritage Auctions and took place on Friday, April 3. The identities of the seller and buyer have not been revealed.

Recommended Videos

The classic game was purchased in 1986 as a Christmas gift, but was placed in a desk drawer and forgotten about until it was discovered earlier this year.

Related

“As soon as this copy of Super Mario Bros. arrived at Heritage, we knew the market would find it just as sensational as we did,” Valarie McLeckie, Heritage Auctions video games director, said in a release, adding, “Though, I suppose we can’t be too shocked; who doesn’t love Mario?”

Commenting on the condition of the auctioned Super Mario Bros. game, McLeckie said it was “one of the earliest copies produced that had plastic shrink wrap, rather than sticker seal. By early 1987, Nintendo was producing a version that had another new variation to their original packaging [in the form of] an additional ‘code.’ Since the production window for this copy and others like it was so short, finding another copy from this same production run in similar condition would be akin to looking for a single drop of water in an ocean. Never say never, but there’s a good chance it can’t be done.”

The previous record sale for a Super Mario Bros. game was $114,000 at an auction in July 2020.

This isn’t the first time a Nintendo-made item has sold at auction for way more than its original price. In 2019, for example, a sealed copy of a Nintendo Entertainment System (NES) Kid Icarus game found in an attic by a Nevada man during a clear-out fetched $9,000 when it went under the hammer. Not bad for something bought for $38 in 1988.

And then last year a working prototype of the Nintendo PlayStation sold for $360,000 at auction, setting a new record for a single video game lot.

Finally, dentist and avid video game collector Eric Naierman snapped up a collection of around 40 factory-sealed NES titles for just over $1 million from three Denver-based collectors in 2019.

Right, it’s clearly time to check your attic and desk drawers for any long-lost video games that might be worth a few bucks.

Editors' Recommendations

Topics
Trevor Mogg
Trevor Mogg
Contributing Editor
Not so many moons ago, Trevor moved from one tea-loving island nation that drives on the left (Britain) to another (Japan)…
Where to find the Ghost Medal in Super Mario RPG
Mario sleeping in a bed.

One of the best aspects of Super Mario RPG is how beginner-friendly it is as an RPG. You don't have a ton of stats to manage, and your weapons and equipment are mostly linear upgrades outside of some secrets. Accessories are the most interesting ways you can customize your party, allowing you to add unique attributes. The Ghost Medal is one of the strongest of these. but it's tucked away in a hidden corner of the game. It's no time for a nap, so let's go over how to get the Ghost Medal in Super Mario RPG.
How to get the Ghost Medal

The Ghost Medal can be found only after you've reached Monstro Town, which is a good way into the game. Once here, enter the house directly to the right of the Item Shop, turn off the mushroom light, and rest in the bed. While sleeping, the Three Musty Fears will appear around Mario and tell him clues as to where their flags are. By collecting them all, you will earn this accessory. Here's where to find them:

Read more
All hidden chest locations in Super Mario RPG
Toad explaining Hidden Treasures to Mario.

The remake of the SNES game Super Mario RPG is about as faithful as any fan could hope for. The classic characters, locations, combat mechanics, and music are all back in a new and charming graphical style. While there are a few new tweaks and additions here and there, for the most part, the world is just as you remember from your childhood. That includes those tricky Hidden Chests. Just like in the original, a special set of hidden chests are waiting to be found all across the game world, but for those who haven't played the original, you may go most (if not the entire) game without finding them. Hidden chests, in this case, are actually invisible until Mario jumps up and activates them. Mario is a superstar jumper, but even he would get tired of jumping everywhere possible in search of these secret chests. We'll point out where to find all 39 Hidden Chests in Super Mario RPG so you can reap the rewards without pulling your hair out while trying to find them.

We will list every Hidden Chest in the order you should naturally come across them as you're playing the game so you can follow along. However, if you've already missed some, none of them are missable, so you can always backtrack to get any you might have accidentally passed by. You should also equip the Signal Ring to alert you when a Hidden Chest is in your area.
Hidden Chest 1

Read more
Super Mario RPG Wedding Hall guide: Where to find Peach’s crown and other accessories
Princess Peach with a parasol in Super Mario RPG.

Mario and friends have chased down Peach to Marrymore late into Super Mario RPG. It isn't Bowser who has her in his clutches this time, but Booster, who intends to marry the princess against her will. After busting into the church to call things off, Peach's crown and other accessories will be scattered across the chapel. You will need to find every last missing item before the ceremony begins, but they aren't all in plain sight. Here is where to find Peach's crown and all her other accessories in Super Mario RPG.
Where to find all of Peach's accessories

Aside from her crown, you will need to find her shoes, ring, and brooch as well.
Peach's crown location
The crown is the easiest to find since it will be in sight right away. After the collision, the crown ends up resting atop Booster's head standing at the altar. All you need to do is jump on top of him to get it back.
Shoes, ring, and brooch locations
The other three items weren't dropped on the floor, but havebeen collected by Booster's Sniffits. These quick little dudes will be running in patterns around the church and pews, so you need to intercept and speak to each of them. Just talking to them will do the trick -- you don't have to engage in a fight -- so just mash the talk button as you approach.

Read more