Which Japanese studio developed the original Pokémon role-playing games?

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Game Freak developed the original Pokémon role-playing games.

The studio began as a video-game magazine created by Satoshi Tajiri in 1983. Illustrator Ken Sugimori joined the magazine, and the pair later transformed it into a development company. Game Freak was formally incorporated in Tokyo in 1989.

Game Freak created Pokémon Red and Green, the first Pokémon role-playing games, while Nintendo published them for the Game Boy. Creatures later became involved in the Pokémon property and helped with related development, but Game Freak remained the primary developer of the main role-playing series.

Players sometimes answer Nintendo because Nintendo published the games, manufactured the Game Boy, and owns a major share of the Pokémon business. However, publishing and development are different credits. Game Freak is the studio most directly responsible for building the original game systems, maps, battles, characters, and creature-collecting structure.

Source: Wikipedia · fact-checked Oct. 2026

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