In a remarkable transaction, three first-edition Pokémon games have been sold for an astounding price, marking it as the second-largest physical game sale globally. The buyer, a collector from Dubai, spent approximately USD 2 million, equivalent to around Rp 35.6 billion.
The Valuable Pokémon Titles
The games involved in this high-stakes deal are Pokémon Blue Version, Pokémon Red Version, and Pokémon Yellow Version: Special Pikachu Edition. These titles were assessed and graded by PSA, a well-known third-party grading organization in the gaming industry.
Impressive Grading Scores
Each game received outstanding ratings: Pokémon Blue Version was graded at 9.8, while both Pokémon Red Version and Pokémon Yellow Version achieved perfect scores of 10. This achievement makes these first-edition games some of the highest-rated Pokémon titles in existence.
The Significance of Physical Games
Nathan Howerton, the owner and founder of Nostalgix, who facilitated the transaction, emphasized that this sale highlights the enduring value of physical games in an increasingly digital landscape. He stated, "In a world that is becoming more digital, collectors continue to place exceptional value on physical media. The sale of these PSA-certified Pokémon games demonstrates that truly remarkable physical copies are not merely nostalgic artifacts, but also an irreplaceable part of gaming history."
Comparative Sales in the Gaming Market
This sale stands as the second-largest video game transaction to date, following a copy of Super Mario Bros. for NES, which sold for USD 3 million at auction in June 2026. That particular copy was rated 9.6 by PSA, which is notable since PSA rarely assigns a perfect score of 10 to games.
The impressive ratings of these three original Pokémon games indicate their exceptional physical condition, with little to no flaws detected. According to Claire Shelton, head of PSA Video Games, "We seek perfection, or at least as close to it as possible. With injection-molded components, there will always be visible lines where something separates from the mold, or the complexity of the manufacturing process may lead to slight inconsistencies."
In contrast, the Super Mario Bros. title, which fetched USD 3 million, has remained sealed since its production in 1968, making it a remarkable 40 years old yet still in superb condition. The story behind this game is equally impressive; it was only discovered a few months ago, nestled within an untouched NES Control Deck package, thus remaining undisturbed for nearly four decades.
Source: https://inet.detik.com/games-news/d-8613128/3-game-pokemon-langka-laku-rp-35-6-miliar-jadi-transaksi-terbesar-kedua
