On what date did the first Pokémon games launch in Japan?

The first Pokémon games launched in Japan on February 27, 1996. They were Pocket Monsters Red and Green for Nintendo’s Game Boy, marking the beginning of the Pokémon video game series.

The games were developed by Game Freak and published by Nintendo. Their central idea combined collecting, training, battling, and trading creatures, with two versions encouraging players to connect their systems and exchange Pokémon unavailable in one version.

The Japanese release predates the international versions by more than two years. Outside Japan, the games were adapted as Pokémon Red and Blue, while the original Japanese Green version was not released internationally in its original form.

February 27 is now celebrated as Pokémon Day because it commemorates the franchise’s original game debut. The date is therefore a milestone for the entire Pokémon brand, not just for one particular game edition.