The following article is a broad timeline of the Pokémon franchise, also known as Pocket Monsters in Japan, a Japanese media franchise managed by The Pokémon Company, a company founded by Nintendo, Game Freak, and Creatures.
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 2022, there are currently nine generations of main series video games.
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 18: Pokémon Red and Blue, the international version of Pocket Monsters Red & Green (1996) and the first Pokémon games released internationally, released in the United States[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
2001[]
February: Pokémon USA established
February 27: Fifth anniversary of the Pokémon franchise
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[22]
July 17: Seventh Pokémon movie, Destiny Deoxys, first released in Japan[23]
August 22: First ever Pokémon Trading Game World Championships held
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[25]
November 21: Nintendo DS first released in North America
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[30]
September 28: Pokémon Diamond and Pearl, the Sinnoh anime saga & 3rd Japanese anime series, first released in Japan[31]
November 19: Nintendo Wii first released in North America
June 16: Pokémon Rumble, a spinoff game, first released for the Wii
July 19: Eleventh Pokémon movie, Giratina and the Sky Warrior, 2nd movie in the Diamond and Pearl movie trilogy, first released in Japan[35]
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
July 18: Twelfth Pokémon movie, Arceus and the Jewel of Life, 3rd movie in the Diamond and Pearl movie trilogy, first released in Japan[39]
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[40] (in celebration of the 10th anniversary of Pokémon Gold and Silver)
November 21: Nintendo DSi XL first released in Japan
March 6: Pokémon Ranger: Guardian Signs, a spinoff game and third and most-recent game in the Ranger series, first released in Japan for the Nintendo DS
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 and White!, released in the United States
February 26: Nintendo 3DS first released in Japan
February 27: Fifteenth anniversary of the Pokémon franchise
April 21: Learn with Pokémon: Typing Adventure, spinoff educational game, first released in Japan for the Nintendo DS (only released in Japan, Europe & Australia)
October 2: Pokémon Origins, a special mini anime series, first released
Generation VI: Kalos (2013-2016)[]
2013[]
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[48]
October 12: Nintendo 2DS first released in the West
October 17: Pokémon: X Y, fifth anime series, first released in Japan[49]
October 19: Seventeenth English dub anime season, Pokémon the Series: XY, released in the United States; Pokémon English dub anime is rebranded as "Pokémon the Series"
December 25: Pokémon Bank released worldwide for Nintendo 3DS
2014[]
July 19: Seventeenth Pokémon movie, Diancie and the Cocoon of Destruction, first released in Japan[50]
September 13: Super Smash Bros. for Nintendo 3DS, crossover game, first released in Japan
October 11: New Nintendo 3DS & the New Nintendo 3DS XL first released in Japan
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)
November 21: Super Smash Bros. for Wii U, crossover game, first released in North America
February 18: Pokémon Shuffle released worldwide for the Nintendo 3DS
May 7: Pokémon Jukebox, a music app only for Android first released in Japan
July 18: Eighteenth Pokémon movie, Hoopa and the Clash of Ages, first released in Japan[51]
September 9: Pokémon Super Mystery Dungeon, a spinoff 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 spinoff game, first released in Japan for the Nintendo 3DS
2016[]
February 7: Pokémon twentieth anniversary commercial airs during Super Bowl 50[52]
February 20: Nineteenth English dub anime season, Pokémon the Series: XYZ, released in the United States
February 27: Twentieth anniversary of 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[53]
July 15: Twentieth Pokémon movie, I Choose You!, the first alternate timeline movie, first released in Japan[58]
September 22: Pokémon Gold and Silver (1999), originally released for the Game Boy Color, re-released worldwide for the Nintendo 3DS via Nintendo 3DS Virtual Console[59]
September 22: Pokken Tournament DX released worldwide for the Nintendo Switch
January 26: Pokémon Crystal (2000), originally released for the Game Boy Color, re-released worldwide for the Nintendo 3DS via Nintendo 3DS Virtual Console[61]
March 23: Detective Pikachu, spinoff game first released for Nintendo 3DS
May 30: Pokémon Quest, a spinoff game, released for mobile
July 13: Twenty-first Pokémon movie, The Power of Us, first released in Japan[62]
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)[63]
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[65]
August 29: Pokémon Masters, (now called Pokemon Masters Ex since August 2020) mobile spinoff game released