What was the original working title of the Pokémon video games?

The original working title of the Pokémon video games was Capsule Monsters.

Satoshi Tajiri initially called the project Capsule Monsters, reflecting the idea that players would collect creatures contained in portable capsules. Trademark problems made that name difficult to use, so the title passed through forms including CapuMon and KapuMon before becoming Pocket Monsters.

The Japanese franchise name is Pocket Monsters, written as Poketto Monsutā. International branding shortened it to Pokémon, a contraction that preserved the basic idea while making the name easier to use across markets.

The capsule concept also influenced the Poké Ball, the familiar item used to catch and carry Pokémon. The original games eventually moved far beyond the early working title, adding a large role-playing world, version-exclusive species, trading, and competitive battles.