Pokémon Red and Blue classic RPG guide
Also known as: Pokemon Red, Pokemon Blue, Pokémon Red and Green
A guide to Pokémon Red and Blue, the Game Boy RPGs that started the series: choosing a starter, types, gym badges, trading and tips for the first adventure.
- Type
- Video game
- Players
- 1–2
- First released
- 1996
- Designed by
- Satoshi Tajiri
- Developer
- Game Freak
- Publisher
- Nintendo
- Platforms
- Game Boy
Pokémon Red and Blue are role-playing games developed by Game Freak and published by Nintendo for the Game Boy. They first appeared in Japan in 1996 as Red and Green, and versions called Red and Blue reached other countries in the following years. The idea came from Satoshi Tajiri, who loved collecting insects as a child. You play a young trainer who travels across the Kanto region catching creatures called Pokémon, training them and battling other trainers. There are 151 Pokémon to find, and each version has some that the other does not, so players trade with friends to complete the collection. These games started one of the largest entertainment series in the world.
Our verdict
The heart of Pokémon is collection and choice. Building a team of six from 151 options, learning type advantages and planning against each gym is easy to start but has real strategy. Trading with friends turns a single-player game into a social one. Playing the originals today shows where many modern ideas in role-playing games came from, and the simple structure is friendly for younger players.
What works
- Simple rules with lasting strategic depth.
- Collecting and trading make it social.
- A historic start to a huge series.
What does not
- Several well-known glitches and balance problems.
- Original hardware and trading cables are hard to find today.
How to play Pokémon Red and Blue
In Pallet Town, Professor Oak lets you choose one of three starter Pokémon: Bulbasaur, a grass type; Charmander, a fire type; or Squirtle, a water type. Your rival takes the one that is strong against yours. You walk through towns and routes; in tall grass, wild Pokémon appear. You weaken them in battle and throw Poké Balls to catch them. Battles are turn-based: each Pokémon knows up to four moves, and types matter a lot, since water beats fire, fire beats grass and grass beats water, with many more combinations. Winning battles gives experience, so Pokémon level up, learn moves and sometimes evolve into stronger forms. Your main goal is to defeat eight gym leaders to earn badges, then face the Elite Four. Using a link cable, two Game Boys can connect to trade Pokémon or battle each other.
Tips for new players
- Keep a balanced team with several types instead of relying on your starter alone.
- Buy plenty of Poké Balls and Potions before long routes and caves.
- Weaken a wild Pokémon and put it to sleep or paralyse it to catch it more easily.
- Learn the basic type chart; it decides most hard battles.
Good for
Pokémon Red and Blue: common questions
What is the difference between Pokémon Red and Blue?
The story is the same. Each version has a few Pokémon that cannot be caught in the other, so players trade to complete the collection.
How many Pokémon are in Red and Blue?
There are 151 Pokémon in total. Completing the full list requires trading and some special events.
Which starter Pokémon is best for beginners?
Bulbasaur makes the first two gyms easier, while Charmander starts harder but grows strong. Any choice can finish the game.
Pokémon Red and Blue belongs to its owners. Playdonya is not connected to them and does not sell this game; the cover is our own illustration.
