Which pair of Pokémon games first launched the series in North America?

Pokémon Red and Blue first launched the Pokémon game series in North America.

Nintendo released the pair in North America on September 28, 1998, more than two years after the original Japanese release of Pokémon Red and Green. The international games used updated code, artwork, and dialogue based largely on the Japanese Pokémon Blue version.

The two-version structure preserved the franchise’s central trading idea. Each version contained Pokémon that could not normally be obtained in the other, encouraging players to connect their Game Boys and exchange creatures.

A common mix-up comes from the original Japanese titles: Japan received Red and Green, not Red and Blue, as its first pair. Pokémon Yellow followed in North America in 1999 and adapted elements of the animated series, including Pikachu as the player’s starting partner.