How Much Money Did These Iconic Games Sell For?

Video games are getting more and more expensive, with AAA developers charging hundreds of dollars for new games. But what if I told you that those aren’t the most expensive games out there that you can purchase?

Collectors are willing to fork over much more than a mere hundred dollars for some iconic older games and what some people have paid will make your jaw drop. So, which games are the ones that have the highest price tag to their name? That’s what I’ll show you right now. 

The Most Expensive Games in the History of Gaming

Image source: Nintendo

We all know that some older video games out there are worth hundreds and thousands of dollars. These older games are exceptionally rare, which is why collectors eye them. Through the WATA rating, we’ve got a good idea of the quality and content collectors are looking for. 

WATA Games is a company that specializes in grading and certifying collectible video games. By establishing a standard for game quality, WATA helps collectors verify the authenticity and condition of their games, enhancing their value and facilitating safer transactions in the collectors' market. 

Now that we have that out of the way, let’s check out the most expensive games ever sold. 

5. Super Mario World

Image source: Nintendo

A copy of Super Mario World, the 1991 classic for the Super Nintendo Entertainment System, managed to sell for a whopping $360.000. The game was in almost perfect condition when it was auctioned off in 2021. It managed to reach a WATA rating of 9.4 (the highest being 10). The game was sealed with an A+ rating, which is probably what skyrocketed the price. 

This classic platformer released in 1990 for theSNES, selling over 20 million copies worldwide, which makes it the best-selling game for the console. The game was eventually remade for the Game Boy Advance and re-released in 2001.

4. Super Mario Bros.

Image source: Nintendo

Another Mario classic was sold in 2021, only this time it was a copy of Super Mario Bros. The game copy was auctioned off through Heritage Auctions for a staggering $660,000. The game was also in mint condition with a WATA rating of 9.6. 

Super Mario Bros. played a crucial role in reviving the video game industry, which had seen a crash in 1983, especially in the United States. The game combined innovative gameplay and broad appeal, which boosted its sales, as well as those of the Nintendo Entertainment System. This makes it one of the most impactful and iconic games of all time. 

3. The Legend of Zelda

Image source: Nintendo, Heritage Auctions

Just months after Super Mario Bros. was auctioned off for $660,000 a copy of the original Zelda game, The Legend of Zelda, was sold for a massive $870,000. While the cartridge “only” had a WATA rating of 9.0, it still managed to become one of the most expensive games ever sold. 

What made this specific game so rare and unique was the fact that it was part of a limited early production run. The game first released in 1986 for the NES and marks the beginning of the iconic Zelda series, which has become one of the best-selling series in the world. 

2. Super Mario 64

Image source: Nintendo, Heritage Auctions

The first game to be sold for over $1 million was none other than Super Mario 64, which was auctioned off in 2021. A collector paid $1.56 million for this iconic sealed copy. It earned a 9.8 WATA rating, meaning it was basically in mint condition. 

Super Mario 64 came out in 1996 and was one of the launch titles for the Nintendo 64. It is widely recognized for pioneering 3D platforming, making it one of the most iconic games to date. It was a huge commercial success, selling over 11 million copies worldwide. 

1. Super Mario Bros.

Image source: Nintendo, Heritage Auctions

Finally, in August 2021 another copy of Super Mario Bros. was sold for the highest price tag to date. The 9.8 rated copy managed to be snagged up by an anonymous collector who bought the copy for $2 million. This is the highest recorded price for any video game ever. 

The cartridge was still sealed in the original packaging. The site where the game was auctioned, Rally, had acquired the copy a year prior for $140.000. Rally is a platform which purchases collectibles and then sells shares of them to investors. Once the pieces are auctioned off, the investors will receive a share of the profit. So, whoever had invested in this cartridge surely made a killing, eh?