Ultra rare Nintendo Mario game cartridges discovered in Wisconsin

August 12, 2026 - 01:02

A remarkable find has surfaced in Waukesha, Wisconsin, where a local gaming store discovered a stash of ultra-rare Nintendo cartridges featuring Super Mario titles. The collection, which includes several unique versions of the classic game, is set to go up for auction starting Friday, drawing attention from collectors and retro gaming enthusiasts alike.

Jason Ganos, a representative from Nintendo Wire, confirmed the discovery and noted that the cartridges are unlike anything commonly seen on the market. While specific details about the exact variants remain under wraps, early reports suggest that at least one of the cartridges could be a prototype or a limited production run that was never widely distributed. Such items are highly sought after because they often contain early code, different artwork, or even unused gameplay elements that differ from the final retail versions.

The store owner reportedly stumbled upon the cartridges while sorting through a donation box that had been sitting in storage for years. Initially dismissed as ordinary copies, a closer inspection revealed unusual markings on the circuit boards and labels, prompting a deeper investigation. Experts were called in to verify the authenticity, and the consensus is that these are genuine pieces of gaming history.

Auction bidding will open online, and estimates suggest the full set could fetch a five-figure sum, though some individual cartridges might sell for even more depending on collector interest. For now, the exact number of cartridges and their full backstory remain a mystery, but the find has already sparked excitement across the gaming community. Fans are eager to see whether these items will end up in private collections or public museums dedicated to video game preservation.