DALLAS, TX.- Heritage will make history this month with the first-ever offering of PSA-graded video games, headlining the auction house’s Nov. 21–22 Video Games Signature® Auction.The debut marks the start of a new chapter in video game collecting as PSA Games (formerly Wata Games) unveils its inaugural label and encapsulation for sealed video game certification.

“This marks a notable step towards a new chapter of game collecting,” says Evan Masingill, Heritage Auctions’ Consignment Director of Video Games. “For the first time, bidders will have the opportunity to own PSA-certified video games, an exciting moment not only for Heritage but for the collecting community as a whole. The presence of PSA in the game collecting space brings new confidence and recognition to the hobby.”

Three of the auction’s top lots are among the first PSA-graded games ever offered, including:

• A The Legend of Zelda (1987) graded PSA 9.8 A++, the earliest 9.8 A++ example and a third-print edition from Nintendo’s landmark series.

• A Super Mario Bros. [Hangtab] graded PSA 9.4 A+, one of the earliest copies that can be acquired, dating from late-1986, making its auction appearance during the 40th anniversary year of the NES and Super Mario’s 1985 debut.

• A Sonic the Hedgehog [Early Production] graded PSA 9.8 A+, one of the highest-quality examples of Sonic in his debut release, representing one of the defining titles of the 16-bit era.

“These are undoubtedly three of the most iconic and significant games ever made,” Masingill says. “They defined their respective systems and introduced the world to Zelda, Super Mario, and Sonic — beloved characters that have ascended from simply video game characters to pop culture icons. It’s exciting to debut PSA Games at Heritage with some of the best, most important examples of these titles we’ve ever seen.”

A Treasure Trove of Hangtab NES Titles and the Debut of the Ippy’s Sea Girt Collection

This auction also features one of Heritage’s largest offerings to date of “hangtab” NES games — the earliest Nintendo Entertainment System boxes manufactured between 1985 and 1987, recognizable for their perforated hangtab cutouts on the back. These early-production variants are among the rarest and most sought-after in the hobby.

Many of these rarities come from the newly introduced “Ippy’s Sea Girt Collection,” a fresh-to-market Wata/PSA pedigree originating from a recently discovered cache of games stored for decades after a video rental store closed. The collection includes several notable NES titles, highlighted by the highest Wata-graded copy of Ikari Warriors, at 9.8 A+.

Top Highlights Across Generations

Heritage’s November event offers a comprehensive snapshot of gaming history, from early Nintendo masterpieces to cult-favorite PC classics and cutting-edge consoles.

Among the highlights are:

• Super Mario Bros. (Nintendo, 1985, Japan release) — one of only three known graded first-print copies, predating the U.S. release by a month and accompanied by a rare pre-release flyer.

• Nintendo Entertainment System Deluxe Set (1986) — an unopened console set including R.O.B., Gyromite, Duck Hunt and the Zapper, graded VGA 80 NM.

• Mountain Dew Limited Edition Xbox (2004) — the highest-graded sealed example from a run of just 5,000 units.

• NES Power Set Console (1988) — the first and highest-graded example of this rare Power Pad set ever offered by Heritage.

A Complete History of Gaming

The auction traverses decades of innovation, from Atari and PC pioneers to Sega, Sony and Microsoft systems. Among the many highlights are Commander Keen: Aliens Ate My Babysitter!, an early copy of Diablo II and Lucasfilm’s The Secret of Monkey Island. For Nintendo enthusiasts, early-production copies of Blades of Steel, Castlevania II: Simon’s Quest and Donkey Kong 3 appear alongside rare Super Mario Bros., Zelda and Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles variants.

“This sale covers the entire history of the industry, from Golden Age hits like Pac-Man to the massive phenomenon that is Fortnite,” says Masingill. “It’s one of the most diverse and significant auctions we’ve held, which reflects the passion and depth of today’s collecting community.”