Pokémon Blue [New Battery] (Nintendo Game Boy/Color, 1998) is where the obsession really kicked off—developed by Game Freak and published by Nintendo. It’s the OG Kanto journey, only this time your starter squad and version-exclusive monsters decide whether you flex a Blastoise or just trade with your buddy who swears Red is better.

Condition note: This cartridge has a new save battery installed, so your Pokédex, team, and grind won’t get erased like it’s Y2K all over again.

1. 151 dreams, 150 realities: Gotta trade with Red to actually “catch ’em all.” Blame Nintendo’s marketing genius.
2. Iconic starter trio: Choose Bulbasaur, Charmander, or Squirtle, then spend the next decade arguing which one is best.
3. Classic 8-gym challenge: Rock, Water, Electric… all before Giovanni and his ground-type mobster crew.
4. Compatible anywhere: Works on the classic Game Boy in grayscale or pops with a tinted palette on the Game Boy Color.

Pokémon Blue is more than just a game—it’s childhood bottled into a plastic cart. It’s link cables, missingno rumors, and hearing the Lavender Town theme way too late at night.

Relive the Kanto grind and buy retro games on Retro Games eXchange to catch nostalgia by the cartridge.