What were the original Japanese Pokémon games called before their international Red and Blue releases?

The original Japanese Pokémon games were called Pocket Monsters Red and Green.

They were released for the Game Boy in Japan on February 27, 1996. Players explored the Pokémon world, battled with their teams, and traded creatures between cartridges using the Game Link Cable.

International audiences generally know the first pair as Pokémon Red and Blue. Japan received a Blue version later as a special edition, and that version’s programming and artwork were used as the basis for the overseas Red and Blue releases. The original Green version was not released internationally at that time.

The title difference is a frequent source of confusion because many later references call the first generation “Red and Blue.” Both naming systems describe the same foundational generation, but Pocket Monsters Red and Green is the historically accurate Japanese launch pairing.