Which company developed the main Pokémon video game series?

Game Freak developed the main Pokémon video game series. The Japanese studio has been the primary developer of the core role-playing games since the original Pocket Monsters titles appeared on Game Boy.

Game Freak began in a different form as a video-game magazine created by Satoshi Tajiri. Illustrator Ken Sugimori later joined the magazine, and the pair transformed Game Freak into a game-development company in 1989. Their early games included Quinty, known in North America as Mendel Palace, before the studio began work on Pokémon.

Nintendo published the original games and remains a major Pokémon partner, but publishing and development are different roles. Creatures Inc. also contributes to Pokémon projects and co-owns franchise rights, while The Pokémon Company manages much of the brand, licensing, and merchandising.

This division of responsibilities is a common source of confusion. Saying Game Freak developed Pokémon is accurate for the core game series, while it does not mean Game Freak made every Pokémon spin-off, anime production, or mobile title.