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]
April 1: Pocket Monsters, the first Japanese anime series, first aired in Japan with the release of the first episode of the 1st anime season, Pokemon, I Choose You!
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]
November 21: Pokémon Gold and Silver, primary games of Generation II, first released in Japan for the Game Boy Color[9]
December 4: Second English dub anime season, Pokémon: Adventures in the Orange Islands, released in the United States[10]
2000
July 18: Third Pokémon movie, Pokémon 3: The Movie: Spell of the Unown first released in Japan[11]
October 14: Third English dub anime season, Pokémon: The Johto Journeys, released in the United States[12]
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
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 17: Eighth English dub anime season, Pokémon: Advanced Battle, released in the United States[26]
October 20: Pokémon Trozei!, a spin-off game, first released in Japan for the Nintendo DS
November 17; Pokémon Mystery Dungeon: Blue Rescue Team and Red Rescue Team, first games in the spin-off Mystery Dungeon series, first released in Japan for the Game Boy Advance and Nintendo DS, respectively
2006
February 27: Tenth anniversary of the Pokémon video games and the Pokémon franchise
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
March 20: Pokémon Ranger: Shadows of Almia, spin-off game and 2nd game in the Ranger series, first released in Japan
March 25: My Pokémon Ranch, a spin-off game, first released in Japan for the Wii
April 12: Eleventh English dub anime season, Pokémon: Diamond and Pearl: Battle Dimension, released in the United States[33]
June 16: Pokémon Rumble, a spin-off game, first released for the Wii
June 30: Shogakukan Productions changed its name to ShoPro
July 19: Eleventh Pokémon movie, Giratina and the Sky Warrior, 2nd movie in the Diamond and Pearl movie trilogy, first released in Japan[34]
August 4: Pokemon Mystery Dungeon: Keep Going! Blazing Adventure Squad, Pokémon Mystery Dungeon: Let's Go! Stormy Adventure Squad, and Pokémon Mystery Dungeon: Go For It! Light Adventure Squad released exclusively in Japan as a WiiWare title for the Wii
April 18: Pokémon Explorers of Sky, upper edition of Pokémon Mystery Dungeon: Explorers of Time and Explorers of Darkness, first released in Japan
May 9: Twelfth English dub anime season, Pokémon: Diamond and Pearl: Galactic Battles, released in the United States[37]
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)
December 5: PokéPark Wii: Pikachu's Adventure, a spin-off game, first released in Japan for the Wii
2010
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
June 5: Thirteenth English dub anime season, Pokémon: Diamond and Pearl: Sinnoh League Victors, released in the United States[40]
July 10: Thirteenth Pokémon movie, Zoroark: Master of Illusions, first released in Japan[41]
September 18: Pokémon Black and White, primary games of Generation V, first released in Japan for the Nintendo DS[42]
September 23: Pokémon: Best Wishes!, the Unova anime saga and fourth Japanese anime series, first released in Japan[43]
October 13: Pokémon Global Link, an online portal, established (went offline, discontinued in 2020)
2011
February 12: Fourteenth English dub anime season, Pokémon: Black & White, released in the United States[44]
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)
July 16: Fourteenth movie, Pokémon the Movie: Black—Victini and Reshiram and White—Victini and Zekrom, the first dual Pokemon movies, first released in Japan[45]
October 20: Fifteenth anniversary of the Pokémon Trading Card Game
November 12: PokéPark 2: Wonders Beyond first released in Japan for the Wii
2012
February 18: Fifteenth English dub anime season, Pokémon: Black & White: Rival Destinies, released in the United States[46]
March 17: Pokémon Conquest, a spin-off game, first released in Japan for the Nintendo DS
April 1: Fifteenth anniversary of the Pokémon anime
June 21: Pokémon Best Wishes Season 2, subseries of the Best Wishes! series, first released in Japan
July 27: Sixteenth English dub anime season part 2 of 2, Pokémon: Black & White: Adventures in Unova and Beyond, released in the United States[49]
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 30: Pokémon Quest, a spin-off game, released for mobile
July 13: Twenty-first Pokémon movie, The Power of Us, first released in Japan[70]
September 25: A mini-series The Two Professors was released
November 16: Pokémon: Let's Go, Pikachu! and Let's Go, Eevee!, remakes of Pokémon Yellow (1998) for the Game Boy Color and first main Nintendo Switch games, released worldwide for the Nintendo Switch in celebration of the Twentieth anniversary of Pokémon Yellow (1998)[71]
March 23: Twenty-second English dub anime season, Pokémon the Series: Sun & Moon – Ultra Legends, released in the United States[72]
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
November 15: Pokémon Sword and Shield, primary games of Generation VIII, released worldwide for the Nintendo Switch[75]
November 17: Pocket Monsters, the seventh anime series and first series to focus on all current regions, first aired in Japan
December 6: Pokémon Sword and Shield TCG released
2020
January 15: Pokémon Twilight Wings, a special mini web anime series, first airs
February 12: Pokémon Home released worldwide for the Nintendo Switch and mobile devices
February 27: Mewtwo Strikes Back: EVOLUTION, the 22nd Pokémon movie, released worldwide on Netflix; first movie to premiere on Netflix
March 6: Pokémon Mystery Dungeon Rescue Team DX, spin-off and remake of Pokémon Mystery Dungeon: Blue Rescue Team and Red Rescue Team (2005), released worldwide for the Nintendo Switch
May 9: Twenty-third English dub anime season, Pokémon Journeys: The Series, first released in Canada
June 5: A mini-series Pokétoon was 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]
June 17: Pokémon Sword and Shield: The Isle of Armor, 1st of 2 DLCs for Pokémon Sword and Shield (2019), released worldwide for the Nintendo Switch[75]
October 22: Pokémon Sword and Shield: Crown Tundra, 2nd of 2 DLCs for Pokémon Sword and Shield (2019), released worldwide for the Nintendo Switch[75]
December 25: Twenty-third Pokémon movie, Secrets of the Jungle, first released in Japan; originally scheduled for July 12 but delayed due to the COVID-19 pandemic in Japan[77]
June 12: Twenty-fourth English dub anime season, Pokémon Master Journeys: The Series, season premiere in Canada[80]
July 6: Fifth anniversary of Pokémon GO, mobile game[81]
July 21: Pokémon Unite, a spin-off MOBA mobile game, released for Nintendo Switch[82]
September 9: Pokémon Evolutions, a special mini web anime series celebrating the 25th anniversary, first airs
September 10: Twenty-fourth English dub anime season premieres on Netflix with the Netflix release of Pokémon Master Journeys: The Series in the United States[83]
September 22: Pokémon Unite, a spin-off MOBA mobile game, mobile release for iOS and Android[82]
April 1: Twenty-fifth anniversary of the Pokémon anime in Japan
May 18: Pokémon: Hisuian Snow, a special mini web anime series, first airs
May 28: Twenty-fifth English dub anime season, Pokémon Ultimate Journeys: The Series, first released in Canada
October 21: Twenty-fifth English dub anime season premieres on Netflix with the Netflix release of Pokémon Ultimate Journeys: The Series in the United States[86]
November 18: Pokémon Scarlet and Violet, primary games of Generation IX, released worldwide for the Nintendo Switch
2023
January 13: Pocket Monsters: Aim to Be a Pokémon Master anime airs in Japan
^"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.
^ ab"Pokémon UNITE | Video Games & Apps". www.pokemon.com. Retrieved January 11, 2021.
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