The original Pokémon Red and Green role-playing games were released for the Game Boy.
The Game Boy’s link cable was central to Pokémon’s design because it allowed two players to connect their handheld systems. Some Pokémon were exclusive to one version, so trading became necessary for players who wanted to complete their Pokédex.
The original Japanese games were Pokémon Red and Green. The international releases became Pokémon Red and Blue, while Pokémon Yellow later offered a revised adventure inspired partly by the animated series. These versions are often grouped together as the first generation.
Although the Game Boy Color launched during Pokémon’s rise, the first games were Game Boy titles. They used the original handheld’s hardware and monochrome-compatible display, making their success especially notable. Later Pokémon games appeared on newer Nintendo handhelds, but the franchise began on the Game Boy.