Video game auctions: Old games sold big this past week

You won't believe how much money was spent recently.

Many gamers know the value of keeping disks and cases in good condition. It’s not uncommon for old classics to sell for massive amounts of money at video game auctions. Old records were blown away this past week at an event held by Heritage Auctions, where many rare and collectible games were on offer.

The aftermath of these sales has sent shockwaves beyond just the gaming community. So without further ado, let’s look at some recent purchases gamers have made, as first reported by Axios. Some are epic while some maybe seem less so.

Sealed Xbox 360 copies of Skyrim & Red Dead Redemption: $600 and $384 USD respectively

To start off this list we’ve got two that are more bizarre and unexpected than anything. There’s no denying that The Elder Scrolls: Skyrim is one of the most successful RPGs of all time. However, it’s not exactly a rare game — and especially not one that you would commonly see being bought for anything other than its normal retail price.

While $600 USD may not rival the amount of money that was spent on other games, it’s still a big investment to make for a game that was released in 2011. Similarly, Red Dead Redemption was first released in 2010 and is also quite an easy game to get your hands on, though still sold for $384 USD.

However, the next games on the list sold for astronomical amounts in comparison.

Early copy of Tomb Raider: $144,000 USD

The original Tomb Raider was released in 1996. Since then, the franchise has spawned many more games, comics and films. So, it should come as no surprise that an early copy of the original game would be one of the most valuable games to be sold at this auction at $144,000 USD.

What’s fantastic about this game being held in such a high esteem is this is that it showcases just how successful video games with a female protagonist can be., and that they can be just as valuable as having a male character at the helm.

Sealed copy of Super Mario World: $360,000 USD

Over 30 years old, Super Mario World is a classic title that many gamers hold dear in their heart. the 1990 title was recently auctioned at the Heritage Auction House in a similar fashion to the games mentioned above.

And while $360,000 USD seems like a tremendous amount to spend on a game, the last two titles on this list shoot these numbers out of the water.

Sealed copy of The Legend of Zelda: $870,000 USD

The Legend of Zelda is one of the biggest and oldest gaming franchises of all time. When one thinks of gaming icons, many think of the series.

Heritage Auctions said this cart is an early production copy of the first game in the Zelda series. They also stated that the game “is no doubt the apotheosis of rarity, cultural significance, and collection centerpieces”. That hype equalled big dollars being thrown about, with a sealed copy being sold for $870,000 USD when the dust had settled.

What makes this copy of the game especially rare is that it was only produced for a few months in late 1987. It was then replaced by a newer variant shortly afterward in early 1988. Amazingly, this game didn’t end up as the biggest sale of the auction.

Sealed copy of Super Mario 64: $1.56 million USD

Super Mario 64 is one of the most beloved games of all time. Released in 1996, the title was the first 3D Mario game that Nintendo released. From the moment it was released, it was a classic and many even call it a genre-defining game.

The Texas-based Heritage Auction House went on to say that the copy that was sold is one of less than five copies of the game in existence in almost perfect condition. Still, it’s almost unbelievable that a video-game was sold for over one million dollars. Given the prestige of the Mario franchise however, it makes sense that of all the games to sell for this amount of money it would be a beloved title like Super Mario 64.

Which game do you think was the most surprising the hear sell for such a large amount of money? Do you think games will only continue to get more valuable? Let us know what you think in the comments below.