What was the first Pokémon video game released outside Japan?

Pokémon Red and Blue were the first Pokémon video games released outside Japan.

They launched in North America on 28 September 1998 for the original Game Boy, more than two years after Pokémon Red and Green debuted in Japan. The international games used Blue as the counterpart to Red, reflecting the enhanced Japanese Pokémon Blue version.

The games preserved the original adventure in the Kanto region, where players collected the first-generation Pokémon and challenged the eight Gym Leaders. Their international success helped turn Pokémon into a worldwide cultural phenomenon.

Pokémon Yellow was released later as an updated version built around Pikachu and elements from the anime. Pokémon Gold and Silver followed as the second generation. Those later titles are sometimes remembered as early global releases, but Red and Blue were the first overseas games.