What is the Japanese name of the Pokémon franchise’s first pair of video games?

The Japanese name of Pokémon’s first game pair is Pocket Monsters Red and Green.

These role-playing games were released for the Nintendo Game Boy in Japan on February 27, 1996. Their Japanese branding used the full franchise name, Pocket Monsters, while the international releases used the shortened Pokémon name and changed the pair to Red and Blue.

The games share the same broad adventure but include version-exclusive Pokémon. That design encouraged players to connect two Game Boy systems with a Link Cable and trade creatures. Completing the original Pokédex therefore required cooperation or access to both versions.

Pokémon Blue was released separately in Japan as an improved version after Red and Green. Its code, artwork, and script became the basis for the international Red and Blue releases. This history explains why international players often assume the franchise began with Red and Blue, even though Japan’s original pair was Red and Green.