Which Pokémon game was the first to feature Pokémon Contests?

Pokémon Ruby and Sapphire were the first Pokémon games to feature Pokémon Contests.

Released for the Game Boy Advance in Japan in 2002, the games introduced the Hoenn region and Generation III. Contests offered an alternative to ordinary battles: Pokémon competed in categories such as Coolness, Beauty, Cuteness, Cleverness, and Toughness.

Contest performance depended on moves and a Pokémon's condition, which could be improved with Pokéblocks made from Berries. The system rewarded different qualities from those used in standard battles, giving players another reason to train and customize their Pokémon.

Pokémon Emerald, released later as an enhanced version, retained the Contest system and expanded it with facilities such as the Battle Frontier. Because Emerald is often remembered for its broader feature set, it is sometimes incorrectly credited with introducing Contests. Ruby and Sapphire established them first.