The original Pokémon games first appeared on the Game Boy.
Pocket Monsters Red and Green were released in Japan for Nintendo’s monochrome handheld system in 1996. The Game Boy was important because its link cable allowed players to trade Pokémon and battle one another using two connected consoles.
The games’ trading design made the handheld’s multiplayer accessory central to the experience. Players needed different versions and other players’ help to obtain every species, turning the limitations of separate cartridges into a reason to connect and share.
Pokémon later appeared on the Game Boy Color, Game Boy Advance, Nintendo DS, Nintendo 3DS, and Nintendo Switch. However, the Game Boy remains the original platform and is a major part of the franchise’s early history.