What were the first Pokémon video games called when they launched in Japan?

The first Pokémon games were called Pocket Monsters Red and Green when they launched in Japan.

Game Freak released the pair for the Game Boy on February 27, 1996. The two versions shared the same main adventure but contained version-exclusive Pokémon, encouraging players to connect their systems and trade.

A Japanese Blue version followed later as a special edition with revised artwork, code, and dialogue. When the franchise expanded internationally, the Japanese Blue version’s improvements were used to create Pokémon Red and Blue. Japan’s original Green version therefore has a different release history from the international games.

These versions introduced the Kanto region, the first 151 Pokémon, and the core loop that defined the series. Pokémon Yellow was released afterward as an enhanced game with anime-inspired changes, including Pikachu as the player’s starting partner. The familiar Red-and-Blue naming can obscure the fact that Japan’s first pair was Red and Green.