On what date did the first Pokémon video games, Red and Green, launch in Japan?

The first Pokémon video games, Red and Green, launched in Japan on February 27, 1996.

Game Freak developed the role-playing games for Nintendo's Game Boy, with Nintendo publishing them in Japan. Players explored the fictional Kanto region, captured Pokémon, battled other Trainers, and challenged the Pokémon League.

The date is often treated as Pokémon Day because it marks the franchise's original commercial debut. The Japanese games were released as a pair, a design that encouraged trading between versions because each contained Pokémon unavailable in the other.

International releases came later and used different titles. North America received Pokémon Red and Blue in 1998, while Europe received Red and Blue in 1999. Pokémon Green was not released internationally in its original form, although its content was incorporated into the overseas Blue version.