Who conceived the original Pokémon concept that became the Pokémon video game series?

Satoshi Tajiri conceived the original Pokémon concept that became the Pokémon video game series.

Tajiri’s idea grew from two experiences: his childhood fascination with collecting insects and his interest in the Game Boy’s ability to connect with another handheld. He imagined players catching creatures and exchanging them through a link cable, turning the handheld into a social collecting game.

Tajiri presented the concept to Nintendo, and Game Freak began developing the project with Nintendo’s support. Shigeru Miyamoto later served as an important mentor during development, while Ken Sugimori led much of the visual and character design work. Junichi Masuda contributed programming, music, and later became a major creative figure in the series.

Another common mix-up is crediting Tajiri as the sole creator of every part of Pokémon. The franchise was built by a wider team including Game Freak, Nintendo, and Creatures. Tajiri is specifically recognized for conceiving the core idea and directing the original games.