When a sealed cartridge of the 1987 video game The Legend of Zelda sold for $870,000 at Heritage Auctions on Friday, it set a world record for the most expensive video game ever sold.
An original Super Mario Bros. sealed copy sold at Heritage Auctions for $660,000 in April 2021, which was the previous world record.
From Heritage Auctions:
"I had a lot of confidence in this game, and, yet, I still feel like the reality of today's bidding exceeded my vision of how it would play out," Heritage Auctions Video Games Specialist Valarie McLeckie said. "Making history is never an easy thing. I'm just really proud we got to be part of this yet again."
It is widely believed that the copy sold Friday is one of just two sealed "NES TM" copies graded by Wata. It is from a variant of the game that was produced for just a few months in late 1987 before it was replaced by the "Rev-A" variant in early 1988. The "NES R" variant was preceded by just one other variant: the "NES TM" variant, which is the true first production run.
Auction description:
The Legend of Zelda – Wata 9.0 A Sealed [No Rev-A, Round SOQ, Early Production], NES Nintendo 1987 USA. Truly, the term "grail" only begins to scratch the surface of describing this game. Of all of the games we've offered in our auctions, this sealed, early production copy of the first game in the groundbreaking Legend of Zelda series is no doubt the apotheosis of rarity, cultural significance, and collection centerpieces. A proverbial trifecta of collector perfection that only one will receive the honor of calling their own.
While it is a hard truth, it is a truth nonetheless — none of the copies we've offered of this title previously could even attempt to hold a candle to this one due to its incredibly rare variant that holds early production status. This matter is completely inarguable. This is the only copy from one of the earliest production runs that we've ever had the opportunity to offer, and, possibly will have the opportunity to offer, for many years to come. Considering this variant was only produced for a few months in late 1987 before it was ultimately replaced by the "Rev-A" variant in early 1988, this statement likely comes as no surprise to collectors. Only one other variant precedes the offered "NES R" variant and that is the "NES TM" variant, which is the true first production run. However, it is also widely believed that only a single sealed "NES TM" example exists, and there is no telling whether or not that copy will ever come to market. Essentially, this copy is the earliest sealed copy one could realistically hope to obtain.
As for the game itself, what explanation is even needed? Few franchises in the realm of video games could match the significance of Nintendo's Legend of Zelda franchise. It successfully encapsulates everything there is to love about video games: solving puzzles, world exploration, immersive storytelling, and incredible character design just to name a few. There's certainly no wonder as to why Link is considered to be one of Nintendo's primary company mascots!
As for this particular copy of the world's first adventure with Link, we don't even need an entire hand to count the number of copies that are purported to exist in sealed condition from this "No Rev-A" production run, and this copy is among the finest known of these examples. Until now, there has never been a single public opportunity to lay claim to this spectacular collection centerpiece (or one even close to matching its allure and significance).
