Video game collectors are incredibly dedicated to the hobby and are often willing to spend jaw-dropping amounts for copies of rare games. But nothing can compare to a recently completed auction for a sealed copy ofSuper Mario 64. The sealed and gradedSuper Mario 64has sold for $1.56 million, an unprecedented amount of money not just for this specific game but for any game, ever. This $1.56 million price tag forSuper Mario 64is easily the highest sale price for a game yet.
The auction was carried out at Heritage Auctions, which is currently holding a Video Game Signature Auction between July 9 and July 11. The item is a boxed copy ofSuper Mario 64originally made for release in the United States in 1996. What makes the game particularly rare and valuable, however, is the condition of the unopened box. It was given a 9.8 garding byWata Games, a service that grades and seals games, giving it a “Like New” condition.
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Even then, it’s difficult to understand why this specific game sold for such an unbelievable amount. The condition of theSuper Mario 64box alone certainly lends the game an extreme rarity, as there are few copies of the game that remain boxed let alone boxed in near-mint condition. Mostly, though, it just goes to show that there are video game collectors out there willing to spend that much money to have the game. They likely aren’t picking it up to collect all ofSuper Mario 64’s stars, though.
Heritage Auctions has never sold a copy ofSuper Mario 64with a 9.8 Wada grading before. However, it has sold a copy graded at 9.6. The just slightly worse-graded copy ofSuper Mario 64sold for just $13,200 and sold the same day. Needless to say, just that small step up in quality was enough to persuade one buyer that its rarity was worth the cost. But it isn’t just the rarity, as a 9.8 copy ofThe Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Timesold for $870,000. There must be something aboutSuper Mario 64.
The giant leap in price could perhaps have been driven by another recent auction. Heritage Auctions recentlysold a copy of the 1990 US release ofThe Legend of Zeldafor $870,000. It was only graded 9.0, but given its age stands to be quite rare, as well. It’s possible that collectors saw the incredible price of that auction, which finished on Friday, and drove this copy ofSuper Mario 64that much higher.
What this means for the future of video game collections remains to be seen. The demand for Wada-gradedrare video gamesis clearly entering a boom period. These prices could climb all the higher. A lot of video game players will be looking through their parents' closets hoping to find forgotten birthday presents.
