What were the titles of the first Pokémon games released in Japan?

The first Pokémon games released in Japan were Pocket Monsters Red and Green.

Game Freak and Nintendo launched the paired role-playing games for the Game Boy on February 27, 1996. The two versions shared the same main adventure but included different Pokémon, encouraging players to connect their systems and trade creatures between them.

International players often know the first pair as Pokémon Red and Blue. That wording is correct for the Western releases, which arrived in North America on September 28, 1998. Japan's original Green version was later represented internationally through the programming and artwork of the Japanese Blue version.

The paired-release structure became a defining part of the series. Later generations continued the pattern with pairs such as Gold and Silver, Ruby and Sapphire, and Diamond and Pearl, usually adding version-exclusive Pokémon and a trading incentive.