Who created the original Pokémon concept for Nintendo’s Game Boy games?

Satoshi Tajiri created the original Pokémon concept for Nintendo’s Game Boy games.

Tajiri grew up collecting insects, and that childhood hobby inspired the idea of capturing and collecting virtual creatures. The Game Boy’s communication link also suggested a way for players to trade creatures between separate systems, transforming a personal collecting experience into a social game.

Tajiri founded Game Freak, first known as a video-game magazine and later as a development company. He pitched the Pokémon idea to Nintendo around 1990, and development of the games that became Red and Green continued for several years.

Ken Sugimori was crucial as an artist and character designer, while Shigeru Miyamoto advised the project at Nintendo. Those contributions sometimes lead to confusion about authorship, but Tajiri is credited as the creator of the Pokémon concept and the original game’s director and designer.