On which Nintendo platform did the original Pokémon games debut?

The original Pokémon games debuted on Nintendo’s Game Boy.

Pocket Monsters Red and Green were designed for the handheld system and released in Japan in 1996. The Game Boy’s Link Cable was central to the concept because it allowed players to trade Pokémon and battle friends using two connected systems.

The games were technically made for the original monochrome Game Boy, although they could also be played on later compatible hardware. Pokémon Yellow was subsequently released with enhanced presentation and support for the Game Boy Color’s color palette.

A common mix-up is identifying the Game Boy Color as the debut platform. The Color launched before Pokémon Yellow, but the first Pokémon games appeared on the original Game Boy, helping extend interest in Nintendo’s handheld system.