How long did Game Freak take to complete Pokémon Red and Green?

Game Freak took six years to complete Pokémon Red and Green.

Satoshi Tajiri first conceived the Pokémon idea around 1990 after thinking about the Game Boy’s link-cable communication. Game Freak then developed the project for the same handheld system, building the collection, trading, and battling mechanics that became the franchise’s foundation.

The lengthy development period placed serious financial pressure on the studio. According to accounts of the project, Game Freak nearly went bankrupt while making the games, and Tajiri did not take a salary during much of development. Investment from Creatures Inc. helped the team finish the project.

The games were eventually released in Japan on February 27, 1996. Their development timeline is sometimes shortened in popular retellings because the concept originated earlier than the formal production period. The six-year figure refers to the time taken to complete the first Pokémon games, not the franchise’s entire history.