The Pokémon franchise is divided into generations. In each new generation, a new set of Pokémon and a new region are introduced for the first time.[1] The first generation began in Japan with the release of Pocket Monsters Red and Green on February 27, 1996. As of 2024, there are currently nine generations of main series video games.
1996
February 27: Pocket Monsters Red & Green, the first-ever Pokémon games and the primary games of Generation I, first released in Japan for the Game Boy[2]
September 28: Pokémon Red and Blue, the international version of Pocket Monsters Red & Green (1996) and the first Pokémon games released internationally, released in North America[7]
December 14: Pokémon Crystal, upper edition of Pokémon Gold and Silver (1999), first released in Japan as the final main games for the Game Boy Color[13]
December 14: Pokémon Stadium 2 (known in Japan as Pokémon Stadium Gold and Silver) released in Japan
September 14: Fifth English dub anime season, Pokémon: Master Quest, released in the United States[16]
November 21: Pokémon Ruby and Sapphire, primary games of Generation III and first main games for the Game Boy Advance, first released in Japan for the Game Boy Advance[17]
January 29: Pokémon FireRed and LeafGreen, remakes of Pocket Monsters Red and Green (1996) for the Game Boy and first ever remakes, first released in Japan for the Game Boy Advance[21]
July 17: Seventh Pokémon movie, Destiny Deoxys, first released in Japan[22]
August 22: First ever Pokémon Trading Game World Championships held
September 2: TV Tokyo MediaNet was shortened to MediaNet
September 11: Seventh English dub anime season, Pokémon: Advanced Challenge, released in the United States[23]
September 16: Pokémon Emerald, upper edition of Pokémon Ruby and Sapphire (2002) and final main games for the Game Boy Advance, first released in Japan for the Game Boy Advance[24]
November 21: Nintendo DS first released in North America
September 8: Ninth English dub anime season, Pokémon: Battle Frontier, released in the United States[28]
September 28: Pokémon Diamond and Pearl, primary games of Generation IV and first main games for the Nintendo DS, first released in Japan for the Nintendo DS[29]
September 28: Pokémon Diamond and Pearl, the Sinnoh anime saga & 3rd Japanese anime series, first released in Japan[30]
October 20: Tenth anniversary of the Pokémon Trading Card Game.
November 19: Nintendo Wii first released in North America
July 18: Twelfth Pokémon movie, Arceus and the Jewel of Life, 3rd movie in the Diamond and Pearl movie trilogy, first released in Japan[38]
September 12: Pokémon HeartGold and SoulSilver, remakes of Pokémon Gold and Silver (1999) for the Game Boy Color, first released in Japan for the Nintendo DS[39] (in celebration of the 10th anniversary of Pokémon Gold and Silver)
March 6: Pokémon Ranger: Guardian Signs, a spin-off game and third and most recent game in the Ranger series, first released in Japan for the Nintendo DS
February 27: Fifteenth anniversary of the Pokémon video games and the Pokémon franchise
April 21: Learn with Pokémon: Typing Adventure, spin-off educational game, first released in Japan for the Nintendo DS (only released in Japan, Europe & Australia)
June 23: Pokémon Black 2 and White 2, a sequel to Pokémon Black and White (2010), the first-ever sequel game and the final main game for the Nintendo DS, first released in Japan for the Nintendo DS[47]
June 23: Pokémon Dream Radar first released in Japan for the Nintendo DS
October 2: Pokémon Origins, a special mini-anime series, first released
October 12: Pokémon X and Y, primary games of Generation VI and first main games for Nintendo 3DS, first released worldwide for the Nintendo 3DS; first games released simultaneously worldwide[51]
October 12: Nintendo 2DS first released in the West
October 17: Pokémon: XY, fifth anime series, first released in Japan[52]
October 19: Seventeenth English dub anime season, Pokémon the Series: XY, released in the United States;[53] Pokémon English dub anime is rebranded as "Pokémon the Series"
December 25: Pokémon Bank released worldwide for Nintendo 3DS
November 21: Pokémon Omega Ruby and Alpha Sapphire, remakes of Pokémon Ruby and Sapphire (2002) for the Game Boy Advance, released worldwide (except Europe on November 28) for the Nintendo 3DS on the twelfth anniversary of Pokémon Ruby and Sapphire (2002)
September 9: Pokémon Super Mystery Dungeon, a spin-off game in the Mystery Dungeon series, first released in Japan for the Nintendo 3DS
September 10: Pokémon GO Press Conference announces Pokémon GO for summer 2016
October 29: Pokémon XYZ, a subseries of Pokémon XY Japanese anime series, first airs in Japan
December 2: Pokémon Picross, a spin-off game, first released in Japan for the Nintendo 3DS
2016
February 7: Pokémon twentieth anniversary commercial airs during Super Bowl 50[57]
February 20: Nineteenth English dub anime season, Pokémon the Series: XYZ, released in the United States[58]
February 27: Twentieth anniversary of the Pokémon video games and the Pokémon franchise
February 27: Pocket Monsters Red, Green, Blue, (1996) and Yellow (1998), originally released for the Game Boy, re-released worldwide for the Nintendo 3DS via Nintendo 3DS Virtual Console[59]
May 1: Pokémon Pass, a mobile app for scanning Pokémon gifts, launches exclusively in the United States
May 3: Detective Pikachu, the first live-action film, first airs in theatres in Japan
May 10: Detective Pikachu, the first live-action film, released in the West[73]
May 27: Pokémon 2019 Press Conference announces Detective Pikachu sequel for the Nintendo Switch, the cloud service Pokémon HOME, the mobile app Pokémon Sleep, the Pokémon GO Plus + device, and the spin-off game Pokémon Masters for mobile devices
July 12: Twenty-second Pokémon movie, Mewtwo Strikes Back: EVOLUTION, remake of the first Pokemon movie and first CGI, first released in Japan[74]
August 29: Pokémon Masters, (now called Pokemon Masters Ex since August 2020) mobile spin-off game released
June 12: Twenty-third English dub anime season premieres on Netflix for the very first time with the Netflix release of Pokémon Journeys: The Series in the United States[76]
^"ポケモン映画公式サイト「劇場版ポケットモンスター ココ」". 「劇場版ポケットモンスター ココ」大ヒット上映中. Retrieved January 11, 2021.
^"A Post Malone Concert and Pikachu Distribution for the Pokémon 25th Anniversary Celebration | Pokemon.com". www.pokemon.com. Retrieved February 24, 2021.
^"New Pokémon Snap™ for Nintendo Switch". newpokemonsnap.pokemon.com. Retrieved January 14, 2021.
^"Go on a Summer Adventure with the Latest Pokémon Season: Pokémon Master Journeys | Pokemon.com". www.pokemon.com. Retrieved May 6, 2021.
^"Why Pokémon GO Fest 2021 Is More Important This Year Than Ever". ScreenRant. April 29, 2021. Retrieved May 28, 2021.
^ a b"Pokémon UNITE | Video Games & Apps". www.pokemon.com. Retrieved January 11, 2021.