Pokémon Red and Green originally launched on Nintendo's Game Boy.
The monochrome handheld was technically limited compared with later consoles, but its portability and link-cable feature were central to Pokémon's design. Players could connect two systems to trade creatures and battle one another, turning a solitary role-playing game into a social experience.
The first games were designed around the Game Boy's hardware, including its small screen, limited memory, and lack of built-in wireless communication. Their success helped extend the commercial life of the system and made the link cable an especially memorable accessory.
Players sometimes confuse the original Game Boy release with Pokémon Yellow, which also appeared on Game Boy, or with the enhanced second-generation games Gold and Silver, which were designed for Game Boy Color. The original pair belongs specifically to the Game Boy era.