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Pokémon history

Pokémon Timeline

From Red and Green in 1996 to today: the main-series games, the anime, the films, the card game, key spin-offs and the milestones in between, with Japanese and Western release dates kept apart.

This is the real-world timeline of the games, anime and films. For the history inside the Pokémon world, see The History of the Pokémon World.

Generation I

1996–1999 · Game Boy
  5. MilestonesTV broadcast

    “Electric Soldier Porygon” airs

    Hundreds of viewers were taken to hospital after the broadcast, and the anime was off the air until April 16, 1998.

    Japan

    Sources:en.wikipedia.orgja.wikipedia.org

  6. MilestonesCompany

    The Pokémon Company is founded

    Founded as Pokémon Center Co., Ltd. by Nintendo, Game Freak and Creatures; renamed The Pokémon Company in October 2000.

    Japan

    Sources:en.wikipedia.orgja.wikipedia.org

  7. MilestonesRetail

    The first Pokémon Center store opens

    Pokémon Center Tokyo opened in the Nihonbashi district.

    Japan

    Sources:nintendolife.comja.wikipedia.org

Generation II

1999–2002 · Game Boy Color
  7. Spin-offsGame Boy Color

    Pokémon Puzzle Challenge

    Japan
    North America
    Europe

    Sources:en.wikipedia.orgserebii.net

  8. Spin-offsNintendo 64

    Pokémon Puzzle League

    Made for the West; it was never released in Japan.

    North America
    Europe

    Sources:en.wikipedia.orgserebii.net

Generation III

2002–2006 · Game Boy Advance
  9. Spin-offsNintendo GameCube

    Pokémon Colosseum

    Japan
    North America
    Europe

    Sources:en.wikipedia.orgserebii.net

  15. MilestonesEsports

    The first World Championships

    Held August 20–22, 2004 in Orlando, Florida, for the Trading Card Game.

    North America

    Sources:en.wikipedia.orgliquipedia.net

  23. Spin-offsNintendo GameCube

    Pokémon XD: Gale of Darkness

    Japan
    North America
    Europe

    Sources:en.wikipedia.orgserebii.net

  27. Spin-offsGame Boy Advance / Nintendo DS

    Pokémon Mystery Dungeon: Red and Blue Rescue Team

    Japan
    North America
    Europe

    Sources:en.wikipedia.orggiantbomb.com

Generation IV

2006–2010 · Nintendo DS
  8. Spin-offsNintendo DS

    Pokémon Mystery Dungeon: Explorers of Time and Darkness

    Japan
    North America
    Europe

    Sources:en.wikipedia.orgserebii.net

  22. MilestonesEsports

    The first Video Game World Championships

    Played on Pokémon Platinum in San Diego, August 14–15, 2009.

    North America

    Sources:serebii.netsmogon.com

  26. Spin-offsWii

    PokéPark Wii: Pikachu's Adventure

    Japan
    North America
    Europe

    Sources:en.wikipedia.orgserebii.net

Generation V

2010–2013 · Nintendo DS

Generations VI–VII

2013–2019 · Nintendo 3DS
  7. MilestonesEvent

    Pikachu Outbreak! takes over Yokohama

    Parades of Pikachu filled the Minato Mirai district from August 9 to 17, 2014.

    Japan

    Sources:soranews24.comotakumode.com

  16. Spin-offsArcade, then Wii U

    Pokkén Tournament

    Japanese arcades first; the Wii U version followed on March 18, 2016.

    Japan
    North America
    Europe

    Sources:en.wikipedia.orgserebii.net

  22. Spin-offsNintendo 3DS

    Detective Pikachu

    Japan got its opening chapters as a download in 2016; the full game came out on March 23, 2018.

    Japan
    North America
    Europe

    Sources:en.wikipedia.orgserebii.net

  25. MilestonesNintendo 3DS

    20th anniversary: Red, Blue and Yellow return

    The original games were released on the Nintendo 3DS Virtual Console worldwide, 20 years to the day after Red and Green.

    Worldwide

    Sources:serebii.netserebii.net

  27. Spin-offsiOS / Android

    Pokémon GO

    Launched first in Australia and the United States.

    Japan
    North America

    Sources:en.wikipedia.orgserebii.net

  53. MoviesLive-action film

    Pokémon Detective Pikachu

    The first live-action Pokémon film.

    Japan
    North America

    Sources:en.wikipedia.orgserebii.net

Generations VIII–IX

2019–today · Nintendo Switch
  6. Main gamesNintendo Switch

    Sword and Shield: The Isle of Armor

    Part one of the Sword and Shield Expansion Pass.

    Worldwide
    Region
    Galar

    Sources:en.wikipedia.orggamesradar.com

  10. Main gamesNintendo Switch

    Sword and Shield: The Crown Tundra

    Part two of the Sword and Shield Expansion Pass, released worldwide at the same moment.

    Japan
    North America
    Europe
    Region
    Galar

    Sources:en.wikipedia.orgsiliconera.com

  13. MoviesAnimated film

    Movie 23: Secrets of the Jungle

    Its release was moved from July 2020 to December 2020.

    Japan

    Sources:en.wikipedia.orgja.wikipedia.org

  15. MilestonesBroadcast

    25th anniversary Pokémon Presents

    Brilliant Diamond and Shining Pearl and Pokémon Legends: Arceus were revealed.

    Japan
    North America

    Sources:en.wikipedia.orgserebii.netfamitsu.com

  18. MilestonesRetail

    Card craze: Target pulls trading cards from its stores

    Target suspended in-store sales of Pokémon and sports cards for safety; they stayed on sale online.

    North America

    Sources:abc7news.comcbsnews.com

  20. Spin-offsNintendo Switch, then iOS / Android

    Pokémon UNITE

    The mobile version followed worldwide on September 22, 2021.

    Worldwide

    Sources:en.wikipedia.orgserebii.net

  32. MilestonesTV broadcast

    Ash becomes World Champion

    Ash and Pikachu defeat Leon in the final of the Masters Eight.

    Japan

    Sources:ja.wikipedia.orgsiliconera.com

  35. MilestonesTV broadcast

    Ash and Pikachu's journey ends

    The final episode starring Ash; Pokémon Horizons began three weeks later.

    Japan

    Sources:ja.wikipedia.orgen.wikipedia.org

  38. Spin-offsiOS / Android / Windows / macOS

    Pokémon Trading Card Game Live

    Left its global beta and replaced Pokémon TCG Online.

    Worldwide

    Sources:pokemon.comserebii.net

  46. Main gamesNintendo Switch

    Scarlet and Violet: The Indigo Disk

    Part two of The Hidden Treasure of Area Zero.

    Worldwide

    Sources:en.wikipedia.orgshacknews.com

  67. MilestonesBroadcast

    30th anniversary: Generation 10 revealed

    Pokémon Winds and Waves were announced for Nintendo Switch 2 in 2027.

    Worldwide

    Sources:serebii.netgamesradar.com

  70. Spin-offsNintendo Switch

    Pokémon Champions

    The Switch version came first; iOS and Android were announced for later.

    Worldwide

    Sources:opencritic.cominsider-gaming.com

3D LabIn-universe history

Pokémon Timeline

Generation I · Game Boy

Year1996