Pokémon Mystery Dungeon: Red Rescue Team and Blue Rescue Team first released in Japan on November 17, 2005.
The paired spin-off games brought Pokémon into the Mystery Dungeon format, a roguelike role-playing style built around randomly generated dungeons and turn-based movement. Red Rescue Team was made for Game Boy Advance, while Blue Rescue Team was made for Nintendo DS.
Unlike the main series, the player character begins as a human transformed into a Pokémon. The story focuses on rescue missions, exploration, and a team of Pokémon that can speak human language. The two versions share a story but use different hardware features.
The Japanese launch date is distinct from the international release. The games reached other regions in 2006, so November 17, 2005, identifies the series’ original debut rather than its worldwide launch.