What were the Japanese titles of the two Game Boy games that launched Pokémon in 1996?

The two Game Boy games that launched Pokémon in Japan in 1996 were titled Pocket Monsters Red and Green. They are the original pair from which the international Pokémon series grew.

The games were substantially similar, but each included Pokémon that could not be obtained in the other version. Trading through the Game Link Cable allowed players to exchange version-exclusive Pokémon and work toward completing the Pokédex.

Japan later received Pocket Monsters Blue as an improved edition. For international markets, Nintendo used Pokémon Red and Pokémon Blue rather than translating the original Green release directly. This is why many international players know the first games as Red and Blue.

The original Japanese releases established the franchise’s core structure: exploring a region, catching creatures, training them, battling other Trainers, and challenging the Pokémon League. Pokémon Yellow followed in Japan in 1998 as a revised version influenced by the anime.