On which Nintendo system did the first Pokémon games launch?

The first Pokémon games launched on Nintendo's Game Boy.

Pokémon Red and Green were Japanese role-playing games developed for the original monochrome handheld. Their design used the Game Boy's portability and Link Cable, allowing players to trade Pokémon and battle friends.

The system was technically limited compared with home consoles, but that limitation supported Pokémon's social design. Players could not obtain every species in one version, so trading became necessary for completing the Pokédex.

Pokémon later appeared on the Game Boy Color, beginning with Pokémon Gold and Silver, but those were second-generation games rather than the originals. Another common mix-up is Pokémon Yellow, which also appeared on the Game Boy but was an enhanced release made after Red and Green.