Sealed copy of Super Mario 64 game sells for record-shattering $1.5m at auction

Super Mario 64, the widely popular video game first released in 1996, has sold at an auction for more than $1.5 million (€1.3 million), shattering records.

The video game cartridge was a launch title for the Nintendo 64 console and enjoys the status of having been one of the most influential early 3D platformers.

The auction house handling the sale said there were “fewer than five” copies in such good condition.

Breaking all records, the sale dwarfed the previous record set just days before after an original Legend of Zelda cartridge, produced by Nintendo Entertainment Systems, sold for $870,000 (€733,718).

While Nintendo has released both games with similar gameplay experience, the value of the original cartridges stems from the value placed on the items as physical memorabilia, such as rare trading cards.