Pokémon Red and Blue
Pokémon Red and Blue are a pair of role-playing games developed by Game Freak and published by Nintendo for the Game Boy, released in Japan in 1996 and worldwide in 1998. Players take on the role of a young Pokémon Trainer exploring the Kanto region to catch, train and battle 151 collectible creatures, aiming to complete the Pokédex and defeat the Elite Four to become Champion.
The games' defining innovation was link-cable trading and battling between the two versions, which encouraged social play and made some Pokémon obtainable only by trading with a friend. This deceptively deep loop of catch, train and battle launched what became the highest-grossing media franchise in history, spanning games, trading cards, anime and film, and it remains a landmark of portable gaming.
Today the latest mainline entries, Pokémon Scarlet and Violet, continue the series on Switch, while the free-to-play Pokémon GO brings creature-catching to phones.
Play it today
Modern alternatives to Pokémon Red and Blue, with the devices they run on and their price. Ordered editorially by how well each one stands in for the original, with community votes weighted in as they accumulate.
Prices, platform availability and Steam Deck compatibility can change at any time. Always check the store page before buying.
| Alternative | Price | Steam Deck | Runs on |
|---|---|---|---|
| Coromon Indie | € 18,49 | Steam Deck Verified | PC, Mac, iPhone, iPad, Android phone, Android tablet, Switch |
| Cassette Beasts Indie | € 19,99 | Steam Deck Verified | PC, Mac, Linux, PlayStation, Xbox, Switch |
| Pokémon GO | Free + in-app purchases | Not on Steam | iPhone, iPad, Android phone, Android tablet |
| Pokémon Scarlet and Violet | € 59,99 + in-app purchases | Not on Steam | Switch |
| Pokémon: Let's Go, Pikachu! / Eevee! | € 59,99 | Not on Steam | Switch |
Coromon Indie
€ 18,49A monster-taming RPG that copies the Game Boy structure closely, then adds difficulty settings and better pacing.
Coromon runs on PC, Mac, iPhone, iPad, Android phone, Android tablet, Switch. Not available on Linux, PlayStation, Xbox.
Cassette Beasts Indie
€ 19,99A brilliant indie monster-collecting RPG with fusion mechanics.
Cassette Beasts runs on PC, Mac, Linux, PlayStation, Xbox, Switch. Not available on iPhone, iPad, Android phone, Android tablet.
Pokémon GO
Free + in-app purchasesThe free-to-play augmented-reality Pokémon game for phones and tablets.
Pokémon GO runs on iPhone, iPad, Android phone, Android tablet. Not available on PC, Mac, Linux, PlayStation, Xbox, Switch.
Pokémon Scarlet and Violet
€ 59,99 + in-app purchasesThe latest mainline open-world Pokémon games for Switch.
Pokémon Scarlet and Violet runs on Switch. Not available on PC, Mac, Linux, iPhone, iPad, Android phone, Android tablet, PlayStation, Xbox.
Pokémon: Let's Go, Pikachu! / Eevee!
€ 59,99A remake of the Kanto adventure that Red and Blue started, rebuilt for Switch with simplified catching.
Pokémon: Let's Go, Pikachu! / Eevee! runs on Switch. Not available on PC, Mac, Linux, iPhone, iPad, Android phone, Android tablet, PlayStation, Xbox.
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