On what date were the first Pokémon games released in Japan, beginning the franchise in 1996?

The first Pokémon games were released in Japan on February 27, 1996.

The games were titled Pocket Monsters Red and Green in Japan and were developed for Nintendo's Game Boy. They introduced the basic Pokémon formula: exploring a region, catching creatures, training them, battling other Trainers, and completing a Pokédex.

The release had originally been planned for December 21, 1995, but it was delayed because related merchandise was not ready. That delay gave Game Freak more time before the games reached stores.

International versions later used the names Pokémon Red and Blue. The Japanese release date is often treated as Pokémon's official birthday, which is why February 27 is celebrated annually as Pokémon Day.