Six regions have appeared in the core series of Pokémon games. They are, in order of appearance, Kanto, Johto, Hoenn, Sinnoh, Unova and Kalos. Each region has been the setting of at least two games in the generation in which it debuts.
The regions are structured similarly. Typically, a region has its own Pokémon League, comprised of eight Gym Leaders. Once these eight are defeated, Trainers can challenge the regional Elite Four, which may or may not be shared with another, nearby region (so far, Johto does not have its own Elite Four, as it shares it with that of Kanto). Accordingly, each one also has a Pokémon Professor, who teaches new Trainers about Pokémon and gives out starter Pokémon to them. There is usually a villainous team operating within the region that use Pokémon to further their goals.
Though there are many similarities between them, there are some major differences between the regions, such as what Pokémon are located there and what legends there are waiting to be uncovered. Visitors from another region quickly realize that the region they are visiting is far from their home, both in the way of the climate, distance and location; and in the culture of the people there.
In Diamond, Pearl, and Platinum, Professor Oak explains that Sinnoh, Kanto, and Hoenn (and probably Johto and others) are part of a largercountry, whose name has yet to be revealed. This concept is similar to the regions of Japan, which the Pokémon world has been modeled after, and from which the Pokémon nation's Kanto region takes its name. Unova is known to be located far away from Kanto and Johto, and as such may not be part of this country.
The regions are structured similarly. Typically, a region has its own Pokémon League, comprised of eight Gym Leaders. Once these eight are defeated, Trainers can challenge the regional Elite Four, which may or may not be shared with another, nearby region (so far, Johto does not have its own Elite Four, as it shares it with that of Kanto). Accordingly, each one also has a Pokémon Professor, who teaches new Trainers about Pokémon and gives out starter Pokémon to them. There is usually a villainous team operating within the region that use Pokémon to further their goals.
Though there are many similarities between them, there are some major differences between the regions, such as what Pokémon are located there and what legends there are waiting to be uncovered. Visitors from another region quickly realize that the region they are visiting is far from their home, both in the way of the climate, distance and location; and in the culture of the people there.
In Diamond, Pearl, and Platinum, Professor Oak explains that Sinnoh, Kanto, and Hoenn (and probably Johto and others) are part of a largercountry, whose name has yet to be revealed. This concept is similar to the regions of Japan, which the Pokémon world has been modeled after, and from which the Pokémon nation's Kanto region takes its name. Unova is known to be located far away from Kanto and Johto, and as such may not be part of this country.