Below you will find a list of every game (including spin-offs) as well as all hardware that is relevant to generations 1 and 2 of Pokémon. There is a summary of what they are and their functionality.
For some cartridges and hardware, there is some advice for buying authentic items secondhand off of sites like eBay. Always do your own research and always check to see if the seller has good reviews - this page is only a starting point and BMF can't be held accountable for any purchases gone wrong.
MAIN SERIES GAMES
For the purpose of this website, "main series" games are all the games that involve the standard Pokémon formula of taking the role of a Pokémon trainer to go through a linear adventure, catching Pokémon and battling with them in turn-based combat to eventually become the Champion. This definition varies per person, and also seems to be changing with modern Pokémon game releases, but that is irrelevant here.
All of the games in this section have batteries inside of them to handle saving, and since the original cartridges are so old, many of them have died by now, wiping the saves with them. This is especially true for Gold, Silver, and Crystal. Generation 1 and 2 games without a working battery cannot save progress! If buying a cartridge, you'll need to look for one with a replaced battery, or replace the battery yourself.
Pokémon Red and Blue
Release Year: 1996 (JP), 1998 (NA)
Red and Blue were the first Pokémon games ever released, and as such are generation 1. They were the second most popular games in the Game Boy library, right under Tetris, and are the best-selling Pokémon games of all time to this day, selling over 30 million units.
They introduced the world of Pokémon for the first time, and formed the basis of the gameplay for the rest of the Pokémon franchise, including turn-based combat and monster collecting. They are set in the first Pokémon region, Kanto.
If you're looking to complete the Pokédex in generation 1, both games are necessary, even with the definitive Pokémon Yellow version, due to version exclusives. For the generation 2 Pokédex, neither is needed if you have Yellow.
Common mistakes on fake carts:
Often just say "GAME" at the top instead of "Nintendo GAME BOY"
"Red Version" or "Blue Version" is written on the cartridge itself
Distorted, saturated colors
Things present on ALL real carts:
Top of the cartridge reads "Nintendo GAME BOY"
Label has the Nintendo logo in the bottom right, not the official Nintendo seal (US only)
ESRB logo is in bottom right and can either be white or black (US only)
Possible serial codes:
(some of these may have -1 or -2 on the end to indicate revisions)
LATIN AMERICAN DMG-APAS-LTN (Red) DMG-APES-LTN (Blue)
Pokémon Yellow
Release Year: 1998 (JP), 1999 (NA)
Yellow is the follow-up to Red and Blue versions, and was released during the downtime between generations 1 and 2, while everyone was waiting for Gold and Silver. It is more based on the anime than its predecessors.
While essentially a rehash of Red and Blue with a slightly mixed up storyline, there are a multitude of sprite changes, including new spritework for every single Pokémon's front sprite, and various changes are made to Gym Leader teams and trainer locations. The major new feature is getting a starter Pikachu instead of the original Kanto starters, similar to Ash in the anime, that follows you around and can interact with you.
If you're looking to complete the Pokédex in generation 1, Yellow is very useful because all of the Kanto starters can be obtained during the main storyline, but Red and Blue are still necessary for some exclusives. For the generation 2 Pokédex, only Yellow is needed to fill in missing Kanto Pokémon.
Common mistakes on fake carts:
Often just say "GAME" at the top instead of "Nintendo GAME BOY"
"Yellow Version" is written on the cartridge itself
Distorted, saturated colors
Things present on ALL real carts:
Top of the cartridge reads "Nintendo GAME BOY"
Label has the Nintendo logo in the bottom right, not the official Nintendo seal (US only)
ESRB logo is in bottom left and can either be white or black (US only)
Possible serial codes:
(some of these may have -1 or -2 on the end to indicate revisions)
AMERICAN: DMG-APSE-USA
EUROPEAN: DMG-APSU-EUR
JAPANESE: DMG-APSJ-JPN
FRENCH: DMG-APSF-FRA
GERMAN: DMG-APSD-NOE
ITALIAN: DMG-APSI-ITA
KOREAN: N/A, unreleased
SPANISH: DMG-APSS-ESP
AUSTRALIAN: DMG-APSU-AUS
LATIN AMERICAN N/A, unreleased
Pokémon Gold and Silver
Release Year: 1999 (JP), 2000 (NA)
Gold and Silver introduced the second generation of Pokémon games, bringing the Johto region to the franchise for the first time. They are the third best-selling Game Boy games of all time, selling over 20 million units. Despite supposedly being released for the Game Boy Color, Gold and Silver can be played on original Game Boy hardware, they just won't have the ability to use Mystery Gift, and will not be in color.
Gold and Silver are much more polished than their predecessors and have numerous new features added, many of which revolving around the new time-keeping mechanic. All Gold and Silver cartridges came with a battery on the inside that could keep track of the date and time, which was used to cause daily events in-game, as well as to spawn Pokémon only at certain times of day.
If you're looking to complete the Pokédex in generation 2, assuming you have Crystal, only one game of the two is necessary without Yellow, but without Yellow, you'll need either both of them or both Red and Blue. If you don't have Crystal, both games and Yellow or Red and Blue are necessary.
Common mistakes on fake carts:
Often just say "GAME" at the top instead of "Nintendo GAME BOY"
The shell isn't sparkly/glittery and has matte finish instead of being reflective
ESRB logo appears on the right instead of the left
Things present on ALL real carts:
There is a CR2025 battery on the inside of every cartridge. This is not visible from the outside, but the seller can take pictures of the inside
On Silver labels only, Lugia's head should be in front of the Pokémon logo (excluding JP)
"Nintendo GAME BOY" is written at the top of the cartridge
Possible serial codes:
(some of these may have -1 or -2 on the end to indicate revisions)
Crystal is the definitive Johto generation 2 game and is the last main series game before generation 3. Unlike Gold and Silver, Crystal can only be played exclusively with Game Boy Color hardware, and will not run on an original Game Boy.
Crystal marks the first time in the Pokémon franchise that the player was given the ability to play as a girl. There are fairly significant changes to the story, this time revolving around Suicune instead of Ho-oh or Lugia. All of the front sprites for Pokémon were given animations for when they are sent out in battle or encountered in the wild. It was also the first time Game Freak experimented with online trading and battling, albeit only in Japan with the Mobile Adapter GB accessory.
If you're looking to complete the Pokédex in generation 2, the most optimal game combination for getting version exclusives with the least cartridges is Crystal, Yellow, and either Gold or Silver.
Common mistakes on fake carts:
Often just say "GAME" at the top instead of "GAME BOY COLOR"
The shell isn't sparkly/glittery and is just clear with a blue hue
ESRB logo appears on the right instead of the left
A standard Game Boy shell is used instead of a Game Boy Color one (Game Boy Color shells have a bump at the top)
Things present on ALL real carts:
There is a CR2025 battery on the inside of every cartridge. This should be visible from the outside in the top right of the shell
Suicune's head crystal is in front of the Pokémon logo (excluding JP)
"GAME BOY COLOR" is written at the top of the cartridge (may be hard to read)
(some of these may have -1 or -2 on the end to indicate revisions)
AMERICAN: CGB-BYTE-USA
EUROPEAN: CGB-BYTP-EUR
JAPANESE: CGB-BXTJ-JPN
FRENCH: CGB-BYTF-FRA
GERMAN: CGB-BYTD-NOE
ITALIAN: CGB-BYTI-ITA
KOREAN: N/A, unreleased
SPANISH: CGB-BYTS-ESP
AUSTRALIAN: CGB-BYTU-AUS
LATIN AMERICAN N/A, unreleased
SPIN-OFF GAMES
Pokémon Stadium
Release Year: 1999 (JP), 2000 (NA)
Pokémon Stadium is the first stadium-styled Pokémon game released outside Japan - that is, a side game with multiple battle gauntlets, taking the form of tournaments with different rulesets. It features four different playable tournament cups, as well as the Gym Leader Castle which walks the player through defeating the Kanto Gym Leaders, Elite 4, and Rival at a higher difficulty than in the mainline games. Stadium also comes with a few side features, such as the Kids Club containing minigames in a similar style as Mario Party minigames, without the boards, of course.
With the usage of an N64 Transfer Pak, all the generation 1 main series Pokémon games (Red, Blue, and Yellow) can be connected to transfer Pokémon and use them in battles, as well as a few other features such as the GB Tower which lets the player run their cartridges on their N64 at a higher speed once certain conditions have been met.
Pokémon Stadium 2
Release Year: 2000 (JP), 2001 (NA)
Pokémon Stadium 2 is the sequel to the first Stadium, released to be compatible with the new generation 2 games alongside some additional new features. Like its predecessor, Stadium 2 features four tournament cups and a Gym Leader Castle, now expanded to hold both the Kanto and Johto Gym Leaders, etc. It brings back minigames with a whole new rotation to play, as well as introducing new features that are generation 2-specific, such as an NPC to perform Mystery Gift with once a day and the ability for the player to decorate their room in their mainline game of choice.
Despite the box art not listing Crystal next to Gold and Silver, Stadium 2 is completely compatible with Crystal and even features artwork of the Crystal-exclusive female protagonist, Kris, within the game.
Pokémon Snap
Release Year: 1999 (JP), 1999 (NA)
Pokémon Snap lets you take the role of a boy named Todd Snap to take photos of Pokémon under the guidance of Professor Oak. The gameplay consists of being taken through various environments inside of a vehicle called the ZERO-ONE, in which the player can take pictures and throw objects from, similar to an on-rails shooter in feel. Getting a good score on photos and using various throwing items to cause new scenes to happen is key to progress.
Back when Snap was new, Blockbuster stores across America had "Pokémon Snap Sticker Stations", which were large machines you could walk up to, slot your cartridge into, and then print the photos taken in your Snap save file. While these are long defunct, some of them still sit around the country, waiting to be rescued and refurbished.
Hey You, Pikachu!
Release Year: 1998 (JP), 2000 (NA)
Hey You, Pikachu! is the only game to use the N64 Voice Recognition Unit outside of Japan, and requires it to function. The device is required for gameplay because Hey You, Pikachu! has the player talking into the microphone as its main form of interaction.
Hey You, Pikachu! is reminiscent of virtual pet games. The player is just talking to Pikachu most of the time, with the intention of forming a bond. Together with Pikachu, the player completes various levels with cute, lighthearted themes, such as helping Pikachu's friend Bulbasaur make lunch for a picnic.
Pokémon Puzzle League
Release Year: 2000 (NA)
Pokémon Puzzle League is essentially a Tetris Attack reskin using Pokémon's likeness. As such, the gameplay consists of clearing lines by matching three or more of the same colored blocks. The player takes on the role of Ash, and various characters from the anime show up as well, such as Team Rocket.
Puzzle League is the only game of either generation 1 or 2 to not have a Japanese release. It was released in North America first, and then Europe a year later.
Pokémon Puzzle Challenge
Release Year: 2000 (JP), 2000 (NA)
Pokémon Puzzle Challenge is the Game Boy Color counterpart to Puzzle League on the N64. It is also a Tetris Attack styled game featuring Pokémon characters.
Challenge differs from League in various ways, including a lack of Ash and other anime-exclusive characters, and an additional Puzzle mode not included in League where the player is presented with a uniquely set up level that they must clear without an allotted amount of moves.
Pokémon Trading Card Game
Release Year: 1998 (JP), 2000 (NA)
The Pokémon Trading Card Game on Game Boy Color (and the original Game Boy with some features removed) is much like a main series Pokémon game, but using the real life trading card game as its battle system instead of standard Pokémon battles. The player travels to take down all eight of the Club Masters so they can take on the Grand Masters and Champion, becoming the best TCG player in the world.
Back when the game was released, it served as a useful tutorial for playing the Pokémon card game in real life. Nowadays, the Pokémon TCG has changed so much that it no longer serves its original purpose. However, it does serve as a small look into the Pokémon TCG's history, and of course, a fun RPG.
The Pokémon Trading Card Game got a Japanese sequel never released overseas, titled Pokémon Card GB2: Here Comes Team GR!
Pokémon Pinball
Release Year: 1999 (JP), 1999 (NA)
Pokémon Pinball is a virtual Pinball machine on the Game Boy Color featuring Pokémon characters and a completable Pokédex of the original 151 Kanto Pokémon. The main objective is to score as high of a score as possible, however, captured Pokémon are saved between play sessions, so the Pokédex is a longterm completion goal that can be worked on over time.
Pinball cartridges have a battery compartment attached to the normal Game Boy Color cartridge which take a single AA battery to support the rumble feature, which vibrates while playing and hitting obstacles.
Last updated 5/27/22. The spin-off games tab was added.
