Which two Game Boy games launched the Pokémon franchise in Japan on February 27, 1996?

Pokémon Red and Green launched the Pokémon franchise in Japan on February 27, 1996. They were the original role-playing games developed for Nintendo’s Game Boy and marked the beginning of the Pokémon video-game series.

The games let players explore the fictional Kanto region, capture Pokémon, train them, battle other Trainers, and trade with another player. Their central collecting concept helped distinguish Pokémon from many other role-playing games of the period.

The original Japanese releases were not identical to the international versions. Nintendo later released Pokémon Blue in Japan as an enhanced version, then used revised Red and Blue versions for international markets. The Japanese Green version therefore should not be confused with the overseas Pokémon Blue release.

Together, Red and Green introduced the first generation’s 151 species, including Bulbasaur, Charmander, Squirtle, Pikachu, and Mew. Their 1996 launch is the date commemorated by Pokémon’s 30th anniversary in 2026.