Sealed Nintendo Rarities Certified by CGC Video Games Offered in Heritage Sale

Some of the featured highlights include a sealed Mario Kart 64, a sealed Super Mario Bros. 3 Left Bros. variant and an early copy of The Legend of Zelda for the Nintendo Entertainment System.

Posted on: 10/18/2023

Dozens of video games certified by CGC Video Games™ and gaming memorabilia graded by Certified Guaranty Company® (CGC®) are being offered in an ongoing Heritage Auctions sale. Online bidding is already underway for the Video Games Signature Auction, which is set to conclude on November 3-4, 2023.

A sealed Super Mario Bros. 3 for the Nintendo Entertainment System (1990) graded CGC 9.4 A+ (lot 28031) is leading the CGC-certified collectibles in the sale. This is a first production copy of the beloved Mario adventure, with the Left Bros. variant cover on the box (where BROS. appears partly over Mario's glove). Super Mario Bros. 3 is widely recognized as one of the greatest video games of all time for its groundbreaking mechanics — such as picking up items and the return of Fire Flowers — many of which became staples in future Super Mario Bros. series games.

Also featured in the sale is a sealed Mario Kart 64 for the Nintendo 64 (1997) graded CGC 9.8 A++ (lot 28084). Mario Kart 64 was the second best-selling title on the Nintendo 64, right behind Super Mario 64 — its RPG counterpart. The game’s multiplayer mode was so widely praised that it was a source of inspiration for future titles, and the multiplayer system still influences modern titles today.

Finally, a sealed The Legend of Zelda for the Nintendo Entertainment System (1987) graded CGC 9.4 A+ (lot 28013) is turning heads because of its special origin. This version of the classic NES title is actually an employee store copy of the game, as noted on the CGC Universal Blue label. Prior to a game’s official retail release, Nintendo would often send employees of specific retail stores a pre-release or demo copy of a game to use as advertising material. These games would perpetually run in store-sanctioned consoles until the game’s release, and sometimes after. It also contains a screenshot showing a ladder on the back of the box, which was later changed to a screenshot of a water scene.

Other CGC-certified video games in the auction include:

  • a sealed The Legend of Zelda for the Nintendo Entertainment System (1989) graded CGC 9.6 A+ (lot 28014)
  • a sealed Tomb Raider for the Sony PlayStation (1996) graded CGC 9.4 A+ (lot 28107)
  • a sealed Tetris for the Nintendo Entertainment System (1989) graded CGC 9.6 A++ (lot 28033)
  • a sealed Pokémon Emerald Version for the Nintendo Game Boy Advance (2005) graded CGC 9.6 A+ (lot 28090)
  • a sealed The Legend of Zelda: A Link to the Past for the Super Nintendo Entertainment System (1992) graded CGC 9.6 A+ (lot 28043)
  • a sealed Pokémon Red Version for the Nintendo Game Boy (1998) graded CGC 9.2 A+ (lot 28301)

About CGC

Since revolutionizing comic book grading in 2000, CGC has grown to include certification services for many other types of pop culture collectibles. These divisions include CGC Cards, CGC Video Games and CGC Home Video. CGC Cards provides expert card grading for TCGs, sports cards and non-sports cards. CGC Video Games is dedicated to video game grading for the most popular consoles, including Nintendo, Sega, Atari, PlayStation and more. The newest division of CGC, CGC Home Video, provides expert VHS grading in addition to other types of videocassettes.