Pokémon Red and Green first launched in Japan on February 27, 1996, starting the Pokémon video-game series.
Game Freak developed the role-playing games, and Nintendo published them for the original Game Boy. Players explored the fictional Kanto region, captured creatures, trained them, battled other Trainers, and traded through the Game Link Cable.
The release date is especially important for the 30th anniversary because it marks the beginning of the franchise’s commercial history. The games were originally planned for December 1995, but the launch was delayed while related merchandise and other derivative products were prepared.
A common mix-up concerns the titles. Japan received Pocket Monsters Red and Green, while the international versions were called Pokémon Red and Blue. The Japanese Green version was not released overseas in its original form; its content and artwork were revised for the international Blue version. Pokémon Yellow followed later as an enhanced edition inspired partly by the anime.