The original Pokémon games were released for the Game Boy. Pocket Monsters Red and Green launched in Japan for Nintendo’s handheld system on February 27, 1996.
The Game Boy’s link cable made Pokémon’s trading concept possible. Players could connect two systems to exchange creatures or battle, turning the handheld games into a social experience rather than a purely single-player adventure.
The first games used the original Game Boy’s monochrome display, although later Pokémon releases also worked with the Game Boy Color. International versions were released as Pokémon Red and Blue rather than Red and Green.
The Game Boy was already a worldwide success before Pokémon appeared, but Pokémon extended the system’s commercial life in Japan. The games helped make collecting, training, battling, and trading central parts of the franchise’s identity.