Three pristine Game Boy games reach $2 million
A first-print collection of Pokémon Red, Pokémon Blue and Pokémon Yellow has sold for $2 million, making it the second-most valuable video game sale on record. The only higher result is the $3 million sale of Super Mario Bros. in June 2026.
The collection consists of a PSA 10 copy of Pokémon Red, a PSA 9.8 copy of Pokémon Blue and a PSA 10 copy of Pokémon Yellow. Nostalgix, the private collectibles brokerage that facilitated the transaction, says these are the only first-print editions of Red and Yellow to receive the highest possible PSA grade.
Twenty years of collecting
The original owner, who has not been identified, spent two decades assembling the set. The collection was co-purchased by two anonymous buyers, who call it The Dubai Collection. Nostalgix says the purchasers are private individuals rather than a company or other entity.
The condition of sealed games is difficult to preserve. Small marks can occur during packing, transport or delivery to retailers, making a perfect grade exceptionally uncommon. Nostalgix founder Nathan Howerton described a sealed game retaining a PSA 10 condition as an extraordinary result.
Why Pokémon Red became the centrepiece
For the new owners, Pokémon Red is the standout item. It introduced the franchise to millions of players and remains one of the most recognisable and historically significant video games ever released.
An untouched first-print copy is already difficult to locate. A PSA 10 example combines that scarcity with the game’s cultural importance, which made it the focal point of the $2 million transaction.
From niche hobby to investment market
Nostalgix says a sale of this size would have been difficult to imagine ten years ago. The brokerage argues that historically important, investment-grade games are now being considered alongside valuable comics, trading cards and sports memorabilia.
The shift is also visible in the wider Pokémon collectibles market. Earlier in 2026, a trading card collection containing multiple copies of every possible rare Pokémon card attracted major attention and was presented as a luxury asset. Japan is debating governmental regulation of Pokémon cards as the market grows beyond its traditional enthusiast base.
What the sale means for retro collectors
The record is far beyond the reach of ordinary collectors, but it highlights how condition, provenance, print status and cultural significance can transform familiar retro games into high-value artefacts. For Australian players building a more accessible gaming setup, RETROCADE’s arcade news and editorial coverage offers a broader look at the hobby, while an arcade machine buying guide can help with practical decisions.
Those who want to recreate the feel of classic gaming without pursuing rare sealed software can explore upright arcade machines, compact bartop arcades or arcade parts for repairs and upgrades.
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