With each mainline game in thePokémonfranchise comes a brand new region for players to explore. With new adventures and new pokémon, every region holds a unique place in players' hearts. Nostalgia and excitement color every corner of the Pokémon universe, and no player has the same experiences.
Every region introduced has its own unique culture, gameplay, and environment, but they all follow the same general rules. You start off in a small town where you receive the call to adventure, receive your first pokémon, and are introduced to the mechanics of the game. From there, you travel across the region and uncover what makes this new location unique. But not all regions are created equal, so which is the best?
88/8 Hoenn
Pokémon Ruby and Sapphire introduced the Hoenn Region, an island with a more tropical climate than Kanto or Johto. The landscape is defined by its varied weather conditions, the abundance of water routes, and its coastal cities. In the game, legends have it that the island was shaped by the legendary pokémon Kyogre and Groudon before their battle.
While the Hoenn Region is beautiful and has a rich history, there isn’t a lot that isn’t present in a more interesting way in other places. Pokémon contests aren’t unique to the region, and many of the pokémon introduced in this generation are abundant in other regions. And, while maze-like routes can make a fictional location feel more real, Hoenn’s confusing layout does more to frustrate than to charm.
77/8 Kalos
Based in Northern France, Kalos was introduced in Gen VI with Pokémon X and Y. This was the region where Mega Evolution was introduced, a feature that allowed you to superpower one of your pokémon once per battle. This feature would go on to be used in Gen VII, as well as the remakes for several other main pokémon titles.
Kalos has gone on to be largely forgotten by the community, even though it is a beautiful setting with many unique pokémon that haven’t been seen in other regions. Unfortunately, Kalos’s fate is due to the lackluster story set within it. We can only hope that the things that made the region good are revisited in a later game.
66/8 Kanto
To many, Kanto feels like home. It’s the setting for the original Red and Blue games, and you’re able to visit it in Gold and Silver and complete its gym challenge after you beat the Indigo League. The pokémon are old friends, the locations are familiar, and every corner of it is filled with nostalgia.
While Kanto is the birthplace of the customs that would go on to characterize regions in the Pokémon franchise, it suffers some pitfalls unique to itself. While places like Hoenn and Kalos suffer from maze-like routes, Kanto’s straightforward path still manages to be confusing as it makes you navigate tunnels and caves without a guide.
55/8 Unova
Unova was the first region in the Pokémon franchise not to be based on a location in Japan. At the time the largest region introduced, Unova was based on New York City specifically and New York State in general. Currently, it holds the title of third largest region. The landscape of Unova is expectedly urban, but also contains vast areas of rural living - much like the state it’s based on.
The region is beautiful and diverse, with many exciting unique pokémon that was a contrast to the previous four games and their regions. Unova really felt different, and the story it told in its design and culture reflected that. Pokémon Black and White told a compelling story that served to elevate the region and ensure that it would not be forgotten or overlooked, even if many of the things that made it unique have not really been seen since.
44/8 Galar
Pokémon Sword and Shield were the first mainline Pokémon games released on the Nintendo Switch, which meant that they, and the Galar Region, had high expectations to live up to. Today, the community is still divided on whether or not they met those expectations.
The Galar Region itself is based in the United Kingdom, taking particular inspiration from Scotland. The environment, pokémon designs, culture, and characters all reflect that, creating one of the most cohesive regions from a design standpoint, even as the landscape varies across Galar.
33/8 Alola
The Alola Region is a unique - or ultra - beast within the Pokémon games. Based on the real-world islands of Hawaii, Alola is comprised of four islands each with a variety of towns and cities. The main gameplay difference in this region is the lack of the traditional Gym Challenge in favor of Island Challenges.
The unique take on the main narrative conceit of the franchise is a breath of fresh, island air and makes the entire region feel alive and independent of the other games in a good way. Not only that, but the location itself is beautiful and the steadily improving graphics of the Nintendo consoles are on full display as you explore.
22/8 Sinnoh/Hisui
With the release of Pokémon Legends: Arceus, the Sinnoh Region has a unique place in the Pokémon franchise. Most players first visited the region in Pokémon Diamond and Pearl, or more recently with Brillian Diamond and Shining Pearl, and experienced the beautiful mountainous region in the traditional Pokémon format.
Now though, players have been able to explore Sinnoh in a semi-open world format, set in a time when it was called Hisui. Exploring its vast nature, its rich history, and its nooks and crannies gives you a greater appreciation for the modern-day Sinnoh even though you are locked into a much older format.
11/8 Johto
Johto, Kanto’s fraternal twin, a region to contrast the themes of Red and Blue and explore the legends of the world that have gone on without scientific invention. With the exception of Golden Rod City, the towns of Johto are steeped in tradition, with beautiful architecture and wild nature. If there are more Pokémon Legend games in our future, Johto would be a perfect setting.
The region connects to Kanto in both the original games and the HeartGold and SoulSilver remakes, and shares the Indigo League with its neighbor. Johto still retains its own sense of identity, and while its environment is similar to that of Kanto, it feels unique and peaceful. The story set there is simple and effective, and the navigation is straightforward without being boring. It is without a doubt, the best region in the Pokémon franchise.
