Which company published the first Pokémon games?

Nintendo published the first Pokémon games.

Pocket Monsters Red and Green were developed by Game Freak and published by Nintendo for the Game Boy in Japan. This distinction matters because Game Freak created the games, while Nintendo handled their publication and platform relationship.

The first releases appeared before The Pokémon Company existed as the modern manager of the franchise. Nintendo, Game Freak, and Creatures jointly established that company in 1998 to manage licensing, production, publishing, marketing, and related business activities.

Nintendo's role extended beyond publishing: the company manufactured the Game Boy, promoted the games, and helped coordinate their international releases. The Pokémon brand is therefore a partnership rather than the work of one company alone, but Nintendo is the canonical publisher credited for the original games.