Which handheld console originally hosted Pokémon Red and Blue?

Pokémon Red and Blue originally appeared on the Game Boy.

The first Pokémon role-playing games were designed for Nintendo’s monochrome handheld, whose link-cable capability became central to the series. Players could connect two Game Boy systems to battle or trade Pokémon, making the hardware’s multiplayer accessory an important part of completing the Pokédex.

In Japan, the first games were Pocket Monsters Red and Green, followed by a special Blue edition. International releases were called Pokémon Red and Blue and used improved elements from the Japanese Blue. Despite the games’ simple graphics and limited storage, their connected trading system encouraged players to own different versions.

Later Pokémon games appeared on newer Nintendo systems, including the Game Boy Color, Game Boy Advance, Nintendo DS, and Nintendo Switch. However, the original Red and Blue games were Game Boy titles. They were also rereleased on the Nintendo 3DS Virtual Console in 2016 for the franchise’s 20th anniversary, but that later digital release did not change their original platform.