On which console were the first Pokémon games released?

The first Pokémon games were released on the Nintendo Game Boy.

Pocket Monsters Red and Green launched in Japan in 1996 for Nintendo’s monochrome handheld system. The Game Boy’s link cable made it possible for players to trade Pokémon and battle friends, a feature that became central to the series’ identity.

The games later received international releases and enhanced versions on related hardware. Pokémon Blue appeared in Japan after Red and Green, while the international releases were based on the revised Blue code and were titled Red and Blue.

Pokémon Yellow followed on the Game Boy and added stronger visual links to the anime, including Pikachu as the player’s initial partner. Although later generations moved to newer handhelds and consoles, the original Game Boy established the series’ portable, social format.