Japanese Release Date:  February 27th, 1996
American Release Date:  September 1st, 1998

Overview:  Pocket Monsters Red and Pocket Monsters Green are the role-playing games that started it all.  You play as a young boy attempting to collect the 150 pokemon in the Kanto region.  Along the way, you compete in a series of Pokemon Gyms in order to receive the gym badges you need to enter the Pokemon League.  Featuring a deep gameplay that was unheard of in a portable game at the time, the games would go on to sell millions of copies worldwide.

Changes:  For the American release, Pocket Monsters Green was released under the title Pokémon Blue.  In addition, the art files from both games were completely thrown out and replaced with that of the Japanese Pocket Monsters Blue.  The layout of the final dungeon (the cave where you can find Myuutwo) in the Japanese Red and Green games is replaced by the layout used in the Japanese Blue game for the American release.

Trivia:  It took Pocket Monsters creator Tajiri Satoshi six years to complete the game.  During this time, Game Freak almost went bankrupt, and five employees quit when they found out how serious the company's finances were.  Tajiri didn't pay himself during the final months of development.

Japanese Release Date:  October 15th, 1996
American Release Date:  N/A

Overview:  Pocket Monsters Blue was the same game as Pocket Monsters Red and Pocket Monsters Green with a few differences.  The art used for the character in battle was completely redrawn, and the Pokemon Zukan ("Pokédex") was rewritten.  In addition, there was also a new layout for the final dungeon in the game.

Changes:  This game was never released in the United States.  The game released in the United States as Pokémon Blue was actually the Japanese Pocket Monsters Green.  However, the art file for the Japanese Blue was used for the American Red and Blue games, as was the layout to the final dungeon.

Trivia:  N/A

Official Pocket Monsters Blue Japanese Site

Japanese Release Date:  September 12th, 1998
American Release Date:  October 1st, 1999

Overview:  Pocket Monsters Pikachu is the third version of the original role-playing game.  The game follows the same storylines as all the others before it, but it adds elements introduced by the anime.  Pikachu is your first pokemon, and you are able to get the other starters throughout the course of the game.  In addition, the art file has been redrawn, and the Pokemon Zukan ("Pokédex") entries have been rewritten once again.  Various characters from the anime, such as Joi, Junsa, Musashi, and Kojirou all make appearances, and a "surfing Pikachu" mini game has been added.

Japanese Release Date:  December 18th, 1998 
American Release Date:  April 10th, 2000

Overview:  Pokemon Card GB is a Game Boy version of the popular trading card game.  You start the game with a basic deck of cards and must battle other card game players in order to build up your deck.  Eventually, you come across strong players named card masters who help you get one step closer to your goal of obtaining the legendary pokemon cards.

Changes:  N/A

Japanese Release Date:  April 14th, 1999
American Release Date:  June 1st, 1999

Overview:  Pokemon Pinball, like the title suggests, is a pinball game.  There are two boards - a red board and a blue board - and the object is to capture as many pokemon as you can by ricocheting your pinball at various targets.  The pinball is actually a Monster Ball (Pokéball), and the better the ball, the easier it is to capture certain pokemon.  The game's cartridge has a rumble pack built in, enabling players to feel every bump and vibration during gameplay.

Changes:  The word GET that appeared whenever it was time to catch a pokemon was replaced by the word CATCH in the English version.

Trivia:  The song heard during "Catch 'Em Mode" is an instrumental version of Mezase Pokemon Master, the first opening theme of the Pocket Monsters anime.

Official Pokemon Pinball Japanese Site

Nintendo's Pokémon Pinball American Site

Japanese Release Date:  November 21st, 1999
American Release Date:  October 11th, 2000

Overview:  Pocket Monsters Gold and Pocket Monsters Silver are the true sequels to the original Red and Green games.  Taking place in the new land of Jouto, the game offers 100 new pokemon not available in any previous version.  In addition, the game is the first game to include features such as pokemon gender, hold items, breeding, a night/day function, and an organized backpack.   

Changes:  Some of the pokemon available in the American Gold version are not available in the Japanese Gold version and vice versa.  The same goes for the exclusive pokemon in Pokemon Silver.

A number of pokemon sprites were altered for the American release.  The most notable change is Rougela (Jynx), who had her black skin recolored purple for the American release, but other pokemon sprites (such as Aipom, Yadon, and Donphan) were changed as well.

Certain trainer sprites were changed as well; the Fisherman got his cigarette removed, the Medium's prayer beads erased, and the Sage's hands were redrawn so that it didn't look like he was praying anymore.

Trivia:  A female trainer was originally planned to be included in this game, but fans wouldn't see such a character appear until Pocket Monsters Crystal.

Original Pocket Monsters Gold & Silver
Japanese Site

Japanese Release Date:  September 21st, 2000
American Release Date:  September 1st, 2000

Overview:  Pokemon de PanePon is the Game Boy Color version of the US-exclusive Nintendo 64 game of the same name.  The game, which is essentially PanePon (Tetris Attack in the U.S.) with pokemon decorating the screen, adds characters from the Gold and Silver versions of the games.  

Changes:  N/A

Trivia:  N/A

Official Pokemon de PanePon Japanese Site

Nintendo's Pokémon Puzzle Challenge
American Site

Japanese Release Date:  December 14th, 2000
American Release Date:  July 30th, 2001

Trivia:  N/A

Official Pocket Monsters Crystal Japanese Site