On what date were the first Pokémon video games released in Japan?
Answer
February 27, 1996
The first Pokémon video games were released in Japan on February 27, 1996.
The games were Pocket Monsters Red and Green for Nintendo's Game Boy. They were developed by Game Freak and published by Nintendo, beginning the Pokémon video-game franchise. Players explored the Kanto region, caught creatures, trained them, battled other Trainers, and traded Pokémon using the Game Boy Link Cable.
The Japanese versions were followed by an updated Pocket Monsters Blue release. For international markets, Nintendo used Pokémon Red and Blue instead; the original Japanese Green version was not released overseas in its original form. This difference often causes confusion when people describe the first Pokémon games.
The February 27 anniversary is now celebrated as Pokémon Day. In 2026, the franchise marks 30 years since those original Japanese releases, making the date especially significant for anniversary retrospectives and new announcements.