The Tool Desk
Outbyte Driver Updater FREEScan for outdated or missing drivers - takes under a minuteDriver Scan →Outbyte PC Repair FREEClear out junk files and repair common Windows errorsFree Scan →A factory-sealed copy of the original Nintendo Entertainment System game The Legend of Zelda, donated anonymously to Goodwill, sold for a reported $411,278 in a ShopGoodwill auction that closed on August 18, 2021. The headline rounds that result to $411,000. It is a historical auction result from 2021, not a current valuation of the game, and the sale does not establish what opened or other sealed copies are worth today.
The auction at a glance
The figures below are the ones reported by the outlets named in each row. None has been independently audited, and the reports do not all describe the copy the same way, so each row carries its source.
| # | Preview | Product | Price | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 |
|
The Legend of Zelda by Nintendo | $60.00 | Buy on Amazon |
| 2 |
|
The Legend of Zelda | $1,500.00 | Buy on Amazon |
| 3 |
|
The Legend of Zelda: A Link to the Past (Renewed) | $69.97 | Buy on Amazon |
| 4 |
|
The Legend of Zelda Encyclopedia Deluxe Edition | $48.51 | Buy on Amazon |
| 5 |
|
The Legend of Zelda by Nintendo (Renewed) | $67.00 | Buy on Amazon |
| Item | Reported detail | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Winning bid | $411,278 | Tech Times, 2021 |
| Handling charge | $3.50, separate from the bid | Tech Times, 2021 |
| Auction close | August 18, 2021 | Tech Times, 2021 |
| Number of bids | 145 | CNN Newsource, 2021 |
| Selling venue | ShopGoodwill, run by Goodwill of Western and Northern Connecticut | Inverse; Tech Times, 2021 |
| Donation origin | Goodwill’s Bridgeport, Connecticut store | Inverse, 2021 |
| Game’s initial release | 1986 | CNN Newsource, 2021 |
| Year of the donated copy | 1987, as Tech Times describes this copy | Tech Times, 2021 |
How the copy came to be sold
The game was donated anonymously, so no seller or previous owner has been publicly identified. Goodwill of Western and Northern Connecticut listed it through ShopGoodwill, the chain’s online auction platform, and it drew 145 bids before the auction closed. The donation is notable because the copy was still factory-sealed, which is what separates it from the loose cartridges and opened boxes that make up most vintage NES sales.
The copy’s condition
The copy was not professionally graded, and no grading certification was reported. Because the game remained sealed, its cartridge was never tested. The listing and accounts of it described the packaging as worn:
#1 Best Overall
- Scratches and smudges on the plastic wrap.
- A partly peeled sticker.
- Dents in the box.
- An opening at one corner of the packaging.
Those details matter for interpreting the price. A sealed copy’s value depends heavily on the seal’s integrity, and a buyer paying a record-level sum for an ungraded sealed item is accepting risk that a graded copy would reduce. Reports do not say whether the buyer had the copy assessed after the sale.
Why the release years differ
The reports give two different years, and they describe different things. CNN Newsource reported that the original game was first released in 1986. Tech Times identified the donated copy itself as dating from 1987. A 1987 copy of a 1986 game is not a contradiction, since publishers reprinted and re-packaged titles over the NES’s run, but the reports do not explain the exact production details of this specific copy. Readers should treat 1986 as the game’s release year and 1987 as one outlet’s description of this copy.
Rank #2
- The original title in the classic adventure series
- Help Link save Princess Zelda
- Explore the world of Hyrule and interact with its inhabitants
- Many power-ups and items to discover
- For one player
Where the money goes
Goodwill described the sale’s purpose as helping job seekers and supporting skills training and job placement. CNN Newsource specified that the programs serve people with disabilities and others who face barriers to employment. The available reports do not establish how the sale’s proceeds were allocated, and they do not show that the $411,278 went to any single program. The bid amount is the reported sale price; what Goodwill ultimately directed to each of its programs is not stated in the accessible coverage.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.What the price does and does not tell collectors
A single auction is a single data point, and this one involved an unusual combination of factors: a sealed package, anonymous donation, a charity sale and a competitive bidding war. It should not be used as a benchmark for ordinary NES prices or for the current value of opened copies. When comparing it with other collectible game sales, the useful axes are:
What’s actually slowing this PC down?
Pick the symptom - the matching free tool is one click away.
Rank #3
- Authentic The Legend of Zelda: A Link to the Past
- Does not come with original case or manuals. Cartridge only
- Cartridge and label are in nice condition
- Fully tested and guaranteed
- Title and print or version.
- Platform.
- Seal and packaging condition.
- Independent grade, or lack of one.
- Auction date.
- Sale venue.
- Reported final price, and whether it includes fees.
Measured against those axes, this copy is ungraded and shows packaging wear, so it cannot be treated as condition-equivalent to graded sales. Its 2021 price reflects that auction’s conditions, not the market in 2026.
Quick Recap
Best Value
Rank #4
Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon at the time of purchase will apply.
