Who created the Pokémon concept and directed the first games?

Satoshi Tajiri created the Pokémon concept and directed the first games.

Tajiri grew up collecting insects, a hobby that inspired the idea of creatures that players could find, collect, and exchange. He imagined linking two Game Boy systems so children could trade creatures, turning the hardware’s cable connection into a central part of the game design.

Tajiri presented the concept to Nintendo after developing it through his company, Game Freak. The project took years to complete, and the original games eventually became Pocket Monsters Red and Green in Japan. Shigeru Miyamoto supported the concept and suggested using different Pokémon in separate cartridges to encourage trading.

The other names are important but held different roles. Ken Sugimori led much of the character art, while Junichi Masuda contributed programming, music, and later direction. Shigeru Miyamoto was a major Nintendo designer and mentor to Tajiri, but he did not create Pokémon itself.