Pokémon Red Version
Important: Game may not include original DLC, bonus-content, online-pass, season-pass, or other digital redemption codes. Any included codes may have already been redeemed or expired.
Preorder and launch bonuses, promotional or bonus inserts, and bundled bonus-game downloads are not guaranteed. Content supplied on the game disc or cartridge is unaffected.
About the Game
Pokémon Red Version turns a journey between towns, routes and caves into a growing collection of creatures. Professor Oak offers three starters—Bulbasaur, Charmander or Squirtle—before you begin catching and training your team. Eight Gym Leaders provide major goals. The North American Red package sets out a 150-Pokémon collection target, with up to 139 obtainable in Red and trading with Blue needed to fill the version gaps.
You carry a party of up to six Pokémon, choosing a team whose strengths and weaknesses fit the opposition. Wild encounters offer opportunities to weaken a creature and throw a Poké Ball, while trainers bring their own teams into battle. Different species give you reasons to reconsider the party as your collection grows. Extra catches stay in PC boxes.
In turn-based battles, choose an attack, switch Pokémon, use an item or escape from a suitable encounter. Switching uses a turn; moves have limited PP, so replacements and attacks require planning. Type matchups affect attacks, so a well-chosen team can matter more than simply bringing a higher-level creature.
Experience raises levels, bringing moves and evolution. Some Pokémon evolve through a trade, making exchanges useful for developing the team as well as completing a collection. The B button can interrupt an evolution. Traded Pokémon grow faster, but Gym badges affect whether higher-level traded Pokémon obey.
Hidden Machines open field routes: Cut clears plants, and Surf crosses water, with Gym badges permitting those abilities. Fishing and the Safari Zone add collecting options, and Day Care looks after a Pokémon.
The main adventure is for one player. Trading and head-to-head battles use the original Game Link connection; the cable is sold separately. Link play needs two systems, two compatible Pokémon Game Paks and a compatible cable. Both players save before entering the Cable Club. Its Trade Center handles exchanges and the Colosseum handles linked battles, where items cannot be used.
Monochrome sprites and text frame the original Game Boy journey. A confirms choices and speaks to characters, B backs out, and Start opens the menu. Save records progress in the Game Pak; Continue resumes the saved adventure.
More game data: releases, identifiers & technical details
Regional release records and identifiers for Pokémon Red Version | Nintendo GameBoy.
Release and technical facts
| Fact | Value | Release / platform | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| Published by | Nintendo of America Inc. | United States | MobyGames |
| Developed by | Nintendo Co., Ltd. | United States | MobyGames |
| Developed by | Game Freak, Inc. | United States | MobyGames |
| Developed by | Creatures, Inc. | United States | MobyGames |
| Published by | Nintendo Co., Ltd. | Australia | MobyGames |
| Developed by | Nintendo Co., Ltd. | Australia | MobyGames |
| Developed by | Game Freak, Inc. | Australia | MobyGames |
| Developed by | Creatures, Inc. | Australia | MobyGames |
| Distributed by | Nintendo Australia Pty., Ltd. | Australia | MobyGames |
| Published by | Nintendo of Europe GmbH | Ireland, United Kingdom | MobyGames |
| Developed by | Creatures, Inc. | Ireland, United Kingdom | MobyGames |
| Developed by | Game Freak, Inc. | Ireland, United Kingdom | MobyGames |
| Developed by | Nintendo Co., Ltd. | Ireland, United Kingdom | MobyGames |
| Distributed by | THE Games Ltd. | Ireland, United Kingdom | MobyGames |
| Published by | Nintendo of Europe GmbH | The Netherlands | MobyGames |
| Developed by | Creatures, Inc. | The Netherlands | MobyGames |
| Developed by | Game Freak, Inc. | The Netherlands | MobyGames |
| Developed by | Nintendo Co., Ltd. | The Netherlands | MobyGames |
| Distributed by | Nintendo Benelux B.V. | The Netherlands | MobyGames |
| Published by | Nintendo of Europe GmbH | Belgium, Luxembourg | MobyGames |
| Developed by | Creatures, Inc. | Belgium, Luxembourg | MobyGames |
| Developed by | Game Freak, Inc. | Belgium, Luxembourg | MobyGames |
| Developed by | Contact Data Belgium N.V. | Belgium, Luxembourg | MobyGames |
| Developed by | Nintendo Co., Ltd. | Belgium, Luxembourg | MobyGames |
| Video Resolutions Supported | 160×144 | Game Boy | MobyGames |
| Color Depth | 2-bit (4 greyscales) | Game Boy | MobyGames |
| Multiplayer Options | Turn-Based Multiplayer (Game Link Cable) | Game Boy | MobyGames |
| Multiplayer Game Modes | Free-for-all / One-on-one (VS) | Game Boy | MobyGames |
| Number of Players Supported | 1-2 Players | Game Boy | MobyGames |
| Save Game Methods | Manual Save | Game Boy | MobyGames |
| Save Game Methods | Game Media | Game Boy | MobyGames |
| Miscellaneous Attributes | Battery Backed RAM | Game Boy | MobyGames |
| Miscellaneous Attributes | Game Link Cable | Game Boy | MobyGames |
| Miscellaneous Attributes | Super Game Boy Compatible | Game Boy | MobyGames |
| Miscellaneous Attributes | Transfer Pak | Game Boy | MobyGames |
| Original game disc count | 1 | North America | MobyGames |
Regional releases
| Release date | Region / edition | Source |
|---|---|---|
| 1998-09-28 | United States | MobyGames |
| 1998-10-23 | Australia | MobyGames |
| 1999-10-05 | Ireland, United Kingdom | MobyGames |
| 1999-10-05 | The Netherlands | MobyGames |
| 1999-10-05 | Belgium, Luxembourg | MobyGames |
Catalog identifiers by release
| Identifier | Code | Region / edition | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| UPC-A | 045496730734 | United States | MobyGames |
| Nintendo Media PN | DMG-APAE-USA | United States | MobyGames |
| eBay Product ID | 8474 | United States | MobyGames |
| UPC-A | 045496730734 | Australia | MobyGames |
| Nintendo Media PN | DMG-APAU-AUS | Australia | MobyGames |
| eBay Product ID | 8474 | Australia | MobyGames |
| ASIN | B00000IYEQ | Australia | MobyGames |
| Nintendo Media PN | DMG-APAU-EUR | Ireland, United Kingdom | MobyGames |
| UPC-A | 045496730734 | Ireland, United Kingdom | MobyGames |
| eBay Product ID | 8474 | Ireland, United Kingdom | MobyGames |
| Nintendo Media PN | DMG-APAU-EUR | The Netherlands | MobyGames |
| UPC-A | 045496730734 | The Netherlands | MobyGames |
| eBay Product ID | 8474 | The Netherlands | MobyGames |
| UPC-A | 045496730734 | Belgium, Luxembourg | MobyGames |
| Nintendo Media PN | DMG-APAU-EUR | Belgium, Luxembourg | MobyGames |
| eBay Product ID | 8474 | Belgium, Luxembourg | MobyGames |
Data by MobyGames.com
