When did the Pokémon video game series first release in Japan?

The Pokémon video game series first released in Japan on February 27, 1996. The debut titles were Pocket Monsters Red and Green for Nintendo's Game Boy.

Game Freak developed the games, with Nintendo publishing them. Their design combined role-playing, exploration, creature collecting, battling, and trading between players. The series was created by Satoshi Tajiri, whose childhood interest in insect collecting influenced the concept.

The Japanese release predates the international versions. North America received Pokémon Red and Blue in 1998, while the original Japanese Green version was not released outside Japan. Because February 27 marks the original launch, it is celebrated annually as Pokémon Day and anchors the franchise's anniversary milestones.