What was the first platform for the Pokémon video games?

The first Pokémon video games were released for the Game Boy. Pokémon Red and Green launched in Japan in 1996 on Nintendo's monochrome handheld system.

Game Boy ownership and its Link Cable were crucial to Pokémon's design. The cable allowed two players to trade creatures and battle one another, turning the handheld from a solitary device into a social platform.

The original games used the Game Boy's limited display and memory to create a large role-playing adventure. Their success helped extend the commercial life of the Game Boy and established Pokémon as one of Nintendo's most important properties.

Later first-generation releases expanded the hardware connection. Pokémon Yellow supported the Game Boy and Game Boy Color, and subsequent generations moved to newer Nintendo handhelds. The series eventually reached consoles, mobile devices, and the Nintendo Switch, but its starting point was the original Game Boy.