CGC-certified Legend of Zelda Realizes a Record $375,000 in Heritage Sale

The sealed The Legend of Zelda graded by CGC Video Games is pedigreed to the Dallas-Fort Worth Collection, which also includes a Metroid that realized $125,000 in the sale.

Posted on: 8/27/2024

A new record was set when a sealed The Legend of Zelda graded by CGC Video Games™ and pedigreed to the Dallas-Fort Worth Collection realized an incredible $375,000 at auction. The Legend of Zelda was just one of dozens of CGC-certified vintage games that were offered in Heritage Auctions’ Video Game Signature Auction, which ended on August 24, 2024.

The sealed copy of The Legend of Zelda for the Nintendo Entertainment System (1987) graded CGC 9.2 A and pedigreed to the Dallas-Fort Worth Collection (lot 28014) now holds the record for the highest-selling CGC-certified video game ever sold. Besides being a sealed first-production copy of the esteemed RPG, this copy of The Legend of Zelda is part of the esteemed Dallas-Fort Worth Collection — a group of more than 300 classic video games in excellent condition, with most still having the original price stickers from the stores they were purchased from. In addition, this is the highest graded first production copy of The Legend of Zelda ever offered in a public auction, according to Heritage Auctions.

Other CGC-certified games pedigreed to the Dallas-Fort Worth Collection also realized impressive prices. Some notable examples include a sealed Metroid for the Nintendo Entertainment System (1987) graded CGC 9.6 A+ (lot 28019) that realized $125,000; a sealed Urban Champion for the Nintendo Entertainment System (1986) graded CGC 9.0 A++ (lot 28041) that realized $42,500; and a complete in box Super Mario Bros. for the Nintendo Entertainment System (1985) graded CGC 9.0 with CIB grades of 8.0 for Box, 9.6 for Cartridge and 9.4 for Manual (lot 28031) that realized $32,500.

“Our new price record was set in a Heritage sale that had showed strong interest for CGC-certified video games, including ones with our Dallas-Fort Worth Collection pedigree” said Kenneth Thrower, Director of Grading for CGC Video Games and CGC Home Video™. “Just one week earlier, we saw a gold NWC cartridge graded CGC 4.0 realize more than $200,000, which is now our third-highest price realized. CGC Video Games is playing strong, and we’re proud to see so many impressive results.”

Other CGC-certified games in the auction included:

  • a sealed Super Mario Bros. for the Nintendo Entertainment System (1989) graded CGC 9.8 A+ (lot 28034) that realized $87,500
  • a sealed Solomon’s Key for the Nintendo Entertainment System (1987) graded CGC 9.8 A+ and pedigreed to the Dallas-Fort Worth Collection (lot 28030) that realized $25,000
  • a sealed Super Mario Bros. for the Nintendo Entertainment System (1988) graded CGC 8.5 A (lot 28033) that realized $23,750
  • a sealed Mega Man X for the Super Nintendo Entertainment System (1994) graded CGC 9.8 A++ and pedigreed to the Dallas-Fort Worth Collection (lot 28054) that realized $22,500
  • a sealed Phantasy Star for the Sega Master System (1988) graded CGC 9.8 A++ and pedigreed to the Dallas-Fort Worth Collection (lot 28089) that realized $20,000

About CGC

Since revolutionizing comic book grading in 2000, CGC has grown to include certification services for a vast variety 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 home media, including Betamax tapes, DVD and Blu-ray discs.

Prices realized include buyer’s premium.