Split image showing packshot of Super Mario Bros game from 198 in original case and image of game play

A rare version of the original 1985 Super Mario Bros has achieved a new Guinness World Records title for most expensive video game sold at an online auction.

Still in its original packaging, the game was sold for $114,000 (£90,000) to an anonymous buyer with demand said to be extremely high.

Super Mario Bros was the first in the highly popular Mario series and is still one of the highest selling video games of all time with over 45 million units sold.

Packshot of Super Mario Bros game from 1985 in original case 

“If any lot in the sale could hit a number like that, it was going to be this one," Heritage Auctions Video Games Director Valarie McLeckie said.

This particular copy was part of one of the short production runs of the game packaged in boxes with a cardboard hangtab underneath the plastic, an indication that it was part of one of the first variants produced after Nintendo started using shrink-wrap to seal their games rather than stickers.

There was no previous record holder in this particular category, however we do have a record for most expensive videogame case; a copy of FIFA World Cup 2006 which was made with sterling silver and 18-carat gold that sold for $9,513 (£4,800) in London back in 2007.

Super Mario Bros game play 1985, showing Mario jumping onto platform

Despite this, our record books are full of achievements related to the Italian plumber and his brother Luigi - the highest score set in Super Mario Bros was achieved by Andrew Gardikis at 1,435,100 points in January 2015.

Japanese gamer KIRAMEKIDEDODAI became the first, and subsequently fastest, player to complete the game blindfolded in 2016, racing through the course using audio cues and counting strategy to finish in 14 minutes and 46 seconds.

Header image credit: Heritage Auctions, HA.com