Rare Super Mario Bros. Cartridge Becomes Most Expensive Video Game Ever Sold at 3 Million Dollars

June 15, 2026 - 06:21

A pristine, sealed copy of the original Super Mario Bros. for the Nintendo Entertainment System has sold at auction for a staggering $3 million, officially making it the most expensive video game ever sold. The cartridge, which had remained untouched inside an unopened NES console bundle for nearly 40 years, blew past the previous industry record by a wide margin.

The sale was handled by a private auction house specializing in rare collectibles. The buyer, who has not been publicly identified, secured the game after a brief but intense bidding war among a small group of ultra-high-net-worth collectors. What makes this particular cartridge so valuable is its condition. Grading experts gave it a near-perfect score, noting that the factory seal was still intact and the box had suffered almost no wear or fading over the decades.

This sale marks a significant milestone in the world of video game collecting, an arena that has seen prices skyrocket in recent years. The previous record was set just months ago by another rare Nintendo title, but the $3 million price tag for Super Mario Bros. has now set a new benchmark. For many collectors, the game represents the holy grail of retro gaming, as it launched one of the most iconic franchises in history and helped revive the entire home console industry after the crash of the early 1980s.