In the original Pokémon games, what town is the player’s hometown?

Pallet Town is the player’s hometown in the original Pokémon games. It is the small starting settlement in the Kanto region where the player and rival begin their journeys.

The player leaves Pallet Town after visiting Professor Samuel Oak’s laboratory. Oak explains that wild Pokémon live in tall grass and gives the player a choice among Bulbasaur, Charmander, and Squirtle. The rival also receives a starter Pokémon and immediately challenges the player.

Pallet Town is deliberately simple compared with later cities. It contains the player’s house, the rival’s house, and Professor Oak’s laboratory, making it a clear narrative starting point. The town’s name also fits the series’ early use of compact, memorable locations.

A common mistake is choosing Viridian City, the first larger city reached after leaving town. Viridian has a Pokémon Center, Poké Mart, and Gym, but it is not the player’s hometown. Pewter City and Cerulean City are later destinations on the Kanto journey.