Pokémon Red, Blue & Yellow: Complete Guide
Red, Blue & Yellow Pokédex →Pokémon Red, Blue and Yellow are the games that started the franchise. Released for the Game Boy in 1996 in Japan, they sent a young trainer out of Pallet Town to travel across Kanto, battle eight Gym Leaders and fill a Pokédex with 151 Pokémon.
Their design is simple, and that is much of their charm. You catch wild Pokémon, raise a team of six, trade with a friend over a link cable, and chase the one Pokémon you are missing. Red and Blue are the paired versions; Yellow came later and tied the story more closely to the television series, with a Pikachu that follows you around.
They suit three kinds of players: curious newcomers who want to see where it all began, nostalgic fans looking for a trip back, and challenge-seekers who enjoy the odd quirks of first-generation battle rules.
Red, Blue & Yellow quick facts
| Release date | February 27, 1996 |
|---|---|
| Platform | Game Boy |
| Region | Kanto |
| Generation | Generation I |
| Versions | Pokémon Red and Pokémon Blue and Pokémon Yellow |
| New Pokémon | 151 new species |
| Starters | Bulbasaur, Charmander, Squirtle and Pikachu |
| Legendary and Mythical | Articuno, Zapdos, Moltres, Mewtwo and Mew |
Story and structure
This section is spoiler-light: it describes the shape of the adventure without revealing its turns.
You begin by choosing your first partner from Professor Oak's lab, while a rival picks the one that is strong against yours. From there the game follows a clear path: travel from town to town, defeat the Gym Leader in each, and collect the eight badges needed to enter the Pokémon League.
A criminal organization called Team Rocket runs in the background of the adventure. You meet its members in a casino, a tower and a hideout, and the thread ties the world together without slowing the pace.
The Gym challenge
Eight Gym Leaders, each specializing in a single type, form the backbone of the game. Their specialties teach you how types work, and the order is mostly fixed, so each Gym is a small lesson before the next.
The Pokémon League
After the badges you cross Victory Road and face the Elite Four, a series of four trainers, and then the Champion. It is a long run with no chance to restock between battles, so preparation matters.
Afterwards, a cave outside Cerulean City opens up, where the strongest wild Pokémon in the game wait for trainers who want more.
New mechanics explained
Types and battles
The first generation has fifteen types and a simpler battle system than later games. Special attacks use a single Special stat, and a few type matchups work differently from the modern chart, with Psychic-type Pokémon being unusually dominant.
Tip: Learn the basic matchups first: Water beats Fire, Fire beats Grass, Grass beats Water, and Electric beats Water. That already covers most of the early game.
Trading and the link cable
Some Pokémon only evolve when traded, and each version holds Pokémon that the other lacks. A friend with a link cable and the other version was the intended way to fill the Pokédex.
Tip: Trade early for evolution Pokémon such as Kadabra and Machoke, so you can use their final forms during your run.
Hidden Machines and field moves
Moves such as Cut, Surf and Strength are taught by Hidden Machines and let you clear obstacles on the map. They take up move slots on your team, so you need to plan who carries them.
Tip: Dedicate one patient Pokémon to field moves instead of spreading them across your best attackers.
Starter Pokémon
You pick one of three starters at the beginning, and Yellow gives you a Pikachu instead. The first three evolve twice and stay useful until the end of the game.
| Starter | Final form | Final typing | Evolves at |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bulbasaur | Venusaur | GrassPoison | Levels 16 and 32 |
| Charmander | Charizard | FireFlying | Levels 16 and 36 |
| Squirtle | Blastoise | Water | Levels 16 and 36 |
| Pikachu | Pikachu | Electric | See below |
Bulbasaur line
Bulbasaur is the easiest start. Grass moves beat the first two Gyms, and its line gets reliable status moves like Sleep Powder.
Watch out: Bug and Flying Pokémon are common on early routes and hit it hard, and Fire and Ice opponents can be difficult later.
Charmander line
Charmander is the challenge pick. It struggles at the start, but Charizard is fast and has strong Fire and Flying attacks.
Watch out: Early Gyms favor Rock and Water, which are exactly what Fire struggles against, so expect to catch a teammate.
Squirtle line
Pikachu
In Yellow, Pikachu follows you and refuses to evolve in your party. Its Electric attacks are very effective against the early Water and Flying Pokémon.
Watch out: It struggles against Ground types and does not hit hard against Pokémon that resist Electric.
Our recommendation
For a first playthrough of Red or Blue, we recommend Squirtle. It is forgiving and does not make the first Gym an obstacle. Choose Bulbasaur if you want the smoothest start, and Charmander if you want a challenge with a strong ending.
Version differences
Red and Blue share the same map and story. They differ in which wild Pokémon appear, and Yellow rearranges the lineup again.
- Red has the Oddish and Growlithe lines, while Blue has the Bellsprout and Vulpix lines.
- Scyther and Electabuzz are in Red, while Pinsir and Magmar are in Blue.
- Yellow gives you Pikachu as your first partner and changes which Pokémon you can find, with the three original starters handed out as gifts later.
Exclusive Pokémon by version
The table lists the Pokémon recorded for each version of the pair.
| Pokémon Red | Pokémon Blue |
|---|---|
| Ekans | Sandshrew |
| Arbok | Sandslash |
| Oddish | Vulpix |
| Gloom | Ninetales |
| Vileplume | Meowth |
| Mankey | Persian |
| Primeape | Bellsprout |
| Growlithe | Weepinbell |
| Arcanine | Victreebel |
| Scyther | Pinsir |
| Electabuzz | Magmar |
If you only want one game, Yellow offers the most complete lineup, but Red and Blue are the originals.
Keep exploring
Tips for new players
- Save before every Gym. A single wrong decision in a long fight can cost you an hour, and the game rewards patience.
- Catch a Pokémon of each major type early. The first two Gyms favor Rock and Water, so Grass or Electric helps a lot.
- Do not rely on one Pokémon. Gym Leaders carry strong teams, and a balanced party will outlast a single over-leveled partner.
- Use Potions and status cures at the right moments, as the game gives you fewer healing tools than later entries.
- Teach field moves to a dedicated teammate so your main attackers keep their best moves.
- Use the Pokémon Centers freely. They are free, and resting before a battle costs nothing.
- Trade whenever you can. It is the only way to evolve a handful of Pokémon and the main way to complete the Pokédex.
Frequently asked questions
What is the difference between Pokémon Red, Blue and Yellow?
Red and Blue are the original pair, with slightly different wild Pokémon. Yellow was released later, gives you a Pikachu that follows you, and follows the anime more closely.
How many Pokémon are in Red, Blue and Yellow?
There are 151 Pokémon in the first generation. Mew is not available in a normal playthrough, so you need an event or a glitch to complete the Pokédex.
Which starter is best in Red and Blue?
Squirtle is the most balanced, Bulbasaur has the easiest start, and Charmander is the hardest early but powerful later.
Can I play Red, Blue and Yellow today?
They were released for the Game Boy and have been re-released for newer systems.
Are there remakes of these games?
Yes. FireRed and LeafGreen remade the originals for the Game Boy Advance, and Let's Go, Pikachu! and Let's Go, Eevee! remade Yellow for the Nintendo Switch.