Which cable let players trade Pokémon between two original Game Boy systems?

The Game Link Cable let players trade Pokémon between two original Game Boy systems.

Pokémon Red and Blue used the cable to connect two Game Boy consoles. Players could trade Pokémon that were unavailable in their own version, making the cable central to the series’ collecting concept. It also supported battles between connected players.

The two first-generation versions were deliberately designed with different Pokémon availability. Completing the Pokédex therefore required communication and trading with another player, rather than simply playing one cartridge alone. This hardware feature turned the Game Boy from a single-player device into a social platform for Pokémon.

The Game Link Cable should not be confused with Nintendo’s Transfer Pak, which connected a Game Boy cartridge to a Nintendo 64 game such as Pokémon Stadium. The Super Game Boy was a Super Nintendo accessory for playing Game Boy cartridges on a television, not a trading device. Pokémon’s original cable-based exchanges helped inspire later wireless trading systems.