What were the Japanese launch titles of the first Pokémon games?

The Japanese launch titles of the first Pokémon games were Pocket Monsters Red and Green. They were released for the Game Boy on February 27, 1996.

International naming often causes confusion because the first overseas pair was Pokémon Red and Blue, not Red and Green. Japan received Blue later as a special edition with updated artwork and dialogue. The international Red and Blue releases were based largely on that improved Blue version rather than simply translating the original Japanese pair.

The paired-release format was central to the games' design. Each version contained Pokémon unavailable in the other, encouraging players to connect two Game Boys and trade. Together, the original games introduced the Kanto region, the Pokédex, Gym battles, and the first generation of Pokémon. The original Green version was never released internationally in its original form, which is why many players outside Japan know the franchise's beginning through Red and Blue.