Which console originally received the first Pokémon games?

The first Pokémon games were released for the Game Boy.

Pokémon Red and Green launched in Japan in 1996 on Nintendo’s monochrome handheld console. The hardware was especially important because its Game Link Cable allowed two players to connect separate systems and trade Pokémon or battle one another.

The original games were designed around that portable connection. Different versions contained different Pokémon, so trading was necessary for players who wanted to complete the original Pokédex. This made the Game Boy’s multiplayer accessory part of the series’ identity rather than merely an optional feature.

Pokémon Yellow followed later and was designed for the Game Boy while also using the color capabilities of the Game Boy Color. The first worldwide releases of Red and Blue also remained Game Boy titles. The Nintendo 64 later hosted spin-offs such as Pokémon Stadium, but it was not the platform that began the core series.