Pokémon Gold and Silver first released in Japan in 1999. Their Japanese launch date was November 21, 1999, on the Game Boy Color.
These games were the first installments in Generation II and served as direct follow-ups to Pokémon Red, Green, and Blue. They introduced the Johto region and 100 new Pokémon, while also adding features such as Pokémon breeding, a real-time clock, held items, and the Steel and Dark types. Players could later travel to Kanto, making the games unusually expansive for the series at that time.
International releases followed after the Japanese launch: North America and Australia received Gold and Silver in 2000, while Europe received them in 2001. Pokémon Crystal, an enhanced version, arrived later and should not be confused with the original pair. The year 1999 is especially significant because it places Generation II within the franchise’s first major period of expansion after the original games and anime had become widely popular.