Key Takeaway: The 1990 Nintendo World Championships gray cartridge is one of the most valuable NES items ever made, selling for $20,000 to $100,000. Only 90 were given to finalists. The gold version had just 26 copies made for a Nintendo Power contest and has sold for over $180,000.
In 1990, Nintendo went on a 29-city tour across the United States. They wanted to find the best video game players in the country. It was one of the first big "esports" events ever held.
The Table of Contents
How did the contest work?
Players had to play three games on the NES in exactly 6 minutes and 21 seconds. Their scores from all three games were added together to get a final total.
- Super Mario Bros.: Players had to collect 50 coins as fast as possible.
- Rad Racer: Players had to finish a race.
- Tetris: Players played until their time ran out to get as many points as they could.
The Famous "Gray" and "Gold" Cartridges
The games were on special cartridges that were never sold in stores. Today, they are some of the rarest items in the world.
- Gray Carts: Given to the 90 finalists. These can sell for $20,000 to $100,000 today.
- Gold Carts: Only 26 were made for a magazine contest. These are worth even more, sometimes selling for over $180,000.
Fun Fact: A rare Nintendo World Championships cartridge was found at the bottom of a Safeway grocery bag. This cartridge was later sold for a large amount of money, according to a report by Ars Technicaa report by Ars Technica. Damn talk about winning the lottery.
What happened to the winners?
The champions won huge prizes, like a $10,000 savings bond, a new car, and a gold Mario trophy. The most famous winner was Thor Aackerlund, who won the 12–17 age group and became a gaming legend.
Hidden Facts & Rare Secrets
How the Timer Worked: Tiny Secret Switches
According to the data the nwc cartridges worked like small computers. Inside, they had tiny switches called DIP switches. The staff could flip these switches to set the timer, which was usually set for 6 minutes and 21 seconds. In used todays market, these switches are an easy indicator between a real and a fake cartridge.
Did you hear about the "Secret" The 1991 Campus Challenge
After the success of the 1990 contest, Nintendo organized a much smaller event a year later across 60 college campuses. The games used in this tournament were both Super Nintendo titles, F-Zero and Super Mario World. From what I’ve found in my reasearch their is only one copy that exists today, according to a Racketboy post I found.
The "Missing" Games on the Switch
If you’ve played the Nintendo World Championships: NES Edition on your Switch, you might notice that two games are missing: Tetris and Rad Racer. Nintendo doesn’t own the rights to these games anymore, so they couldn’t add them to the new version.
Can you play the NWC today?
Yes! In 2024, Nintendo released Nintendo World Championships: NES Edition for the Nintendo Switch. It has over 150 speedrun challenges from 13 classic games so you can see if you have what it takes to be a champion.
At The Old School Game Vault, we buy rare games. Some of the super-rare titles we look for include Bubble Bath Babes, Cheetahmen II, Flintstones Surprise at Dinosaur Peak, Little Samon, and The Legend of Zelda. We also seek collector's items, such as Nintendo World Championship cartridges.
Frequently Asked Questions
How many Nintendo World Championship cartridges were made?
116 total. Ninety gray cartridges were given to the finalists from Nintendo's 29-city tour. Twenty-six gold cartridges were made separately for a Nintendo Power magazine contest. The gray and gold versions are identical in gameplay — the gold shell is the only difference, but it's the one collectors pay a significant premium for.
What is a Nintendo World Championship gold cartridge worth?
Gold cartridges have sold for over $180,000. Gray cartridges range from $20,000 to $100,000 depending on condition. Both figures can shift significantly at auction depending on provenance — a cartridge with documented tournament history sells for more than one without it.
What games were played at the 1990 Nintendo World Championships?
Players had exactly 6 minutes and 21 seconds to score across three games: collect 50 coins as fast as possible in Super Mario Bros., finish a race in Rad Racer, and score as many points as possible in Tetris before time ran out. The three scores were combined into a single total.
Who won the 1990 Nintendo World Championships?
Thor Aackerlund won the 12 to 17 age group and became the most famous champion from the event. His Tetris score during the finals was considered extraordinary for the time and helped cement his status as a gaming legend in the early competitive gaming community.
How can I tell if a Nintendo World Championship cartridge is real?
Three things. First, check the DIP switches inside — real cartridges have small internal switches used to set the timer that fakes almost never replicate correctly. Second, the cartridge shape is unique and slightly larger than a standard NES cart. Third, provenance matters — a real cartridge should have some documented history tracing back to the 1990 tour or the Nintendo Power contest. If a seller can't provide any history, treat it as suspicious.
