Good thinking!

Microprose MTG came out in 1997, one year after Pokemon in 1996, but that was in Japan as Pokemon Red/Green.

Pokemon Red/Blue was released in the US in 1998.

So in the US technically, Microprose published first.

I have no idea who owns Microprose’s IP these days.

It’s like the first time in any restaurant or food place where you’re not familiar with the food:

Ask the server what they recommend.