On what date did the first Pokémon games launch in Japan, beginning the Pokémon video game series?

The first Pokémon games launched in Japan on February 27, 1996, beginning the Pokémon video game series.

The games were released for Nintendo's original Game Boy under the Japanese titles Pocket Monsters Red and Pocket Monsters Green. Their launch date is widely treated as Pokémon Day because it marks the franchise's video game debut. The 30th anniversary therefore falls on February 27, 2026.

The date is sometimes confused with the international releases. Outside Japan, players generally first encountered Pokémon Red and Blue, which arrived later and used the Japanese Blue version as their technical foundation. The Japanese Green version was not released internationally in its original form.

The original games introduced the basic Pokémon formula: exploring a region, catching creatures, training them, battling, and trading with other players. They also established the Kanto setting and the first Pokédex lineup.