Which company developed the original Pokémon Snap?

HAL Laboratory developed the original Pokémon Snap.

Nintendo published Pokémon Snap for the Nintendo 64, but development was handled by HAL Laboratory with assistance from Pax Softnica. HAL was already known for games connected to Nintendo, making it a natural fit for a technically distinctive Pokémon console project.

The game began as a non-Pokémon project called Jack and the Beanstalk. Development originally targeted the Nintendo 64DD, a disk-based Nintendo accessory, before the project shifted to a standard Nintendo 64 cartridge. The Pokémon setting clarified the game’s purpose and gave players creatures to photograph.

This development history is why Game Freak is not the answer. Game Freak created the main Pokémon role-playing games, while HAL Laboratory built this photography-focused spin-off. Nintendo handled publishing and platform support.

Pokémon Snap was first released in Japan on March 21, 1999. Its rail-based movement, real-time 3D Pokémon, and photo-scoring system made it different from the turn-based adventures on Game Boy. The game later received a sequel, New Pokémon Snap, developed by Bandai Namco Studios and released in 2021.