On what date were Pokémon Red and Green released in Japan for the Game Boy?

Pokémon Red and Green were released in Japan for the Game Boy on February 27, 1996.

These role-playing games introduced players to the Pokémon world, including the Kanto region, the original 151 Pokémon, and the central goal of catching and training creatures. Game Freak developed the games, while Nintendo published them.

The Japanese releases were Red and Green, not Red and Blue. Blue arrived later in Japan as an updated version with revised artwork and other improvements. For international markets, the paired releases were generally Pokémon Red and Blue, with Blue replacing Japan’s original Green version.

February 27 is now celebrated annually as Pokémon Day because it marks the franchise’s original game debut. The date is therefore a key milestone in the Pokémon 30th anniversary story.