On which console were Pokémon Sword and Shield the first main-series Pokémon games released?

Pokémon Sword and Shield were the first main-series Pokémon games released on Nintendo Switch.

Game Freak developed the pair for Nintendo Switch, and they launched worldwide on November 15, 2019. The games introduced the Galar region, which draws inspiration from the geography and culture of Great Britain. Their story follows a trainer competing in the Galar Gym Challenge while pursuing the title of Champion.

Sword and Shield added the Dynamax and Gigantamax mechanics, allowing Pokémon to become enormous during selected battles. They also introduced the Wild Area, a broad explorable space with changing weather and visible Pokémon encounters.

Earlier main-series games were associated with Nintendo handhelds such as Game Boy, Nintendo DS and Nintendo 3DS. Pokémon: Let’s Go, Pikachu! and Let’s Go, Eevee! appeared on Switch before Sword and Shield, but those are remakes and are not numbered-generation main-series debuts. Sword and Shield are the relevant first-generation Switch pair.