---
title: "Pokémon Regions in Order: Kanto to Paldea, and What Comes Next | pokee.si"
url: "https://pokee.si/articles/pokemon-regions-in-order"
description: "Every Pokémon region in order, from Kanto to Paldea: the real places they are based on, their first games, starters, new Pokémon, plus Hisui and Lumiose."
last_updated: "2026-10-21"
publisher: "pokee.si: a Pokédex for families (unofficial fan site)"
published: "2026-10-21"
---

# Pokémon Regions in Order: Kanto to Paldea, and What Comes Next

There are nine Pokémon regions so far, one for each generation of games: Kanto, Johto, Hoenn, Sinnoh, Unova, Kalos, Alola, Galar and Paldea. A tenth is coming with Pokémon Winds and Pokémon Waves in 2027, but it hasn't been named yet.

Each region is a new map with its own Pokémon, professor and story. Most of them are based on a real place, starting with Japan and later moving around the world.

## All nine regions, in order

| Gen | Region | Inspired by | First games | First partners |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | [Kanto](https://pokee.si/guide/regions/kanto) | The Kantō region of Japan, around Tokyo | Pokémon Red and Green (1996) | [Bulbasaur](https://pokee.si/pokemon/bulbasaur), [Charmander](https://pokee.si/pokemon/charmander), [Squirtle](https://pokee.si/pokemon/squirtle) |
| 2 | [Johto](https://pokee.si/guide/regions/johto) | The Kansai region of Japan, with Kyoto and Osaka | Pokémon Gold and Silver (1999) | [Chikorita](https://pokee.si/pokemon/chikorita), [Cyndaquil](https://pokee.si/pokemon/cyndaquil), [Totodile](https://pokee.si/pokemon/totodile) |
| 3 | [Hoenn](https://pokee.si/guide/regions/hoenn) | The Japanese island of Kyushu, turned on its side | Pokémon Ruby and Sapphire (2002) | [Treecko](https://pokee.si/pokemon/treecko), [Torchic](https://pokee.si/pokemon/torchic), [Mudkip](https://pokee.si/pokemon/mudkip) |
| 4 | [Sinnoh](https://pokee.si/guide/regions/sinnoh) | The Japanese island of Hokkaido | Pokémon Diamond and Pearl (2006) | [Turtwig](https://pokee.si/pokemon/turtwig), [Chimchar](https://pokee.si/pokemon/chimchar), [Piplup](https://pokee.si/pokemon/piplup) |
| 5 | [Unova](https://pokee.si/guide/regions/unova) | The New York City area, United States | Pokémon Black and White (2010) | [Snivy](https://pokee.si/pokemon/snivy), [Tepig](https://pokee.si/pokemon/tepig), [Oshawott](https://pokee.si/pokemon/oshawott) |
| 6 | [Kalos](https://pokee.si/guide/regions/kalos) | France, mainly the northern half | Pokémon X and Y (2013) | [Chespin](https://pokee.si/pokemon/chespin), [Fennekin](https://pokee.si/pokemon/fennekin), [Froakie](https://pokee.si/pokemon/froakie) |
| 7 | [Alola](https://pokee.si/guide/regions/alola) | The Hawaiian Islands, United States | Pokémon Sun and Moon (2016) | [Rowlet](https://pokee.si/pokemon/rowlet), [Litten](https://pokee.si/pokemon/litten), [Popplio](https://pokee.si/pokemon/popplio) |
| 8 | [Galar](https://pokee.si/guide/regions/galar) | The United Kingdom, mostly Great Britain | Pokémon Sword and Shield (2019) | [Grookey](https://pokee.si/pokemon/grookey), [Scorbunny](https://pokee.si/pokemon/scorbunny), [Sobble](https://pokee.si/pokemon/sobble) |
| 9 | [Paldea](https://pokee.si/guide/regions/paldea) | Spain and Portugal | Pokémon Scarlet and Violet (2022) | [Sprigatito](https://pokee.si/pokemon/sprigatito), [Fuecoco](https://pokee.si/pokemon/fuecoco), [Quaxly](https://pokee.si/pokemon/quaxly) |

The first four regions are all based on parts of Japan, where Pokémon is made. From Unova onwards, the games travelled: to New York, France, Hawaii, Britain, and Spain and Portugal.

## How many new Pokémon each region brought

Every region adds brand new Pokémon to the National Pokédex. These counts come from the pokee.si Pokédex, which lists each Pokémon under the region where it first appeared.

| Region | New Pokémon | Professor |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Kanto | 151 | Professor Oak |
| Johto | 100 | Professor Elm |
| Hoenn | 135 | Professor Birch |
| Sinnoh | 107 | Professor Rowan |
| Unova | 156 | Professor Juniper |
| Kalos | 72 | Professor Sycamore |
| Alola | 88 | Professor Kukui |
| Galar | 89 | Professor Magnolia, with her granddaughter Sonia |
| Paldea | 120 | Professor Sada (Scarlet) or Professor Turo (Violet) |

That adds up to 1,018. The last 7 come from Hisui, the setting of Pokémon Legends: Arceus, which brings the total to 1,025.

Unova has the most new Pokémon. Its first games, Black and White, didn't let you meet any older Pokémon until after the main story, so every Pokémon you saw on your first journey was new.

## Regions and generations

Each generation of games usually brings one new region, so the region order and the generation numbers line up: Kanto is Generation 1, Paldea is Generation 9. There are a few twists:

- Remakes keep their old region but count in a newer generation. FireRed and LeafGreen (2004) are Generation 3 games set in Kanto.
- Let's Go, Pikachu! and Let's Go, Eevee! (2018) are Generation 7 games, also set in Kanto.
- Legends: Arceus (2022) is a Generation 8 game, and Legends: Z-A (2025) is Generation 9.

If you're new, start with whichever region's games you can play now. You don't need to play them in order, because each game tells its own story.

## The regions in between

A few places don't fit neatly into the list of nine.

- [Hisui](https://pokee.si/guide/regions/hisui) is Sinnoh long ago, before it was called Sinnoh. Pokémon Legends: Arceus (2022) is set there, and it introduced Hisuian forms like Hisuian Growlithe, plus seven brand new Pokémon such as [Wyrdeer](https://pokee.si/pokemon/wyrdeer) and [Kleavor](https://pokee.si/pokemon/kleavor).
- [Lumiose City](https://pokee.si/guide/regions/lumiose-city) is the big city of Kalos, based on Paris. Pokémon Legends: Z-A (2025) takes place entirely inside it, five years after X and Y.
- [Kitakami](https://pokee.si/guide/regions/kitakami) and [Blueberry Academy](https://pokee.si/guide/regions/blueberry-academy) are the two areas added by the Scarlet and Violet expansions. Kitakami is based on the Tōhoku region of northern Japan.

## Games that revisit old regions

Many regions get a second visit in a remake or a sequel. Kanto has had the most games of any region. After Red, Green, Blue and Yellow came FireRed and LeafGreen (2004) and Let's Go, Pikachu! and Let's Go, Eevee! (2018). Other examples:

| Region | Later games |
| --- | --- |
| Johto | HeartGold and SoulSilver (2009) |
| Hoenn | Omega Ruby and Alpha Sapphire (2014) |
| Sinnoh | Platinum (2008), Brilliant Diamond and Shining Pearl (2021) |
| Unova | Black 2 and White 2 (2012), sequels set two years later |
| Alola | Ultra Sun and Ultra Moon (2017) |

The full list, in release order, is in our [games timeline](https://pokee.si/guide/games).

## What comes next: Generation 10

Pokémon Winds and Pokémon Waves were announced on 27 February 2026 for Nintendo Switch 2, coming in 2027. They will bring Generation 10 and a new region, and new first partners called Browt, Pombon and Gecqua. The region's name and real-world inspiration haven't been revealed yet, so we'll add it here when they are.

## Fun region facts

- Hoenn has a lot of sea. A review of the 2014 remakes famously complained about "too much water", and fans still joke about it.
- Kanto and Johto are next door to each other. In Gold and Silver you can travel back to Kanto after beating the Johto League.
- Galar's Gym battles take place in stadiums full of cheering fans, a lot like football in the UK.
- Paldea was the first fully open-world region in the main games. You can tackle its three stories in any order.

Each region has its own page in the pokee.si [regions guide](https://pokee.si/guide/regions), with its story, first partners, Legendary Pokémon and games.

## Questions people ask

### What are the Pokémon regions in order?

Kanto, Johto, Hoenn, Sinnoh, Unova, Kalos, Alola, Galar and Paldea. The tenth, for Pokémon Winds and Waves, has not been named yet.

### Which region has the most new Pokémon?

Unova, with 156 brand new Pokémon in Black and White. Kanto is close behind with the original 151.

### Is Hisui a separate region?

Not quite. Hisui is what the Sinnoh region was called long ago. Pokémon Legends: Arceus is set there, in the distant past.

### Which Pokémon region is based on the UK?

Galar, from Pokémon Sword and Shield (2019). It is based mostly on Great Britain.

### What region is Pokémon Scarlet and Violet set in?

Paldea, which is based on Spain and Portugal.

## Sources

- [Bulbapedia: Region](https://bulbapedia.bulbagarden.net/wiki/Region)
- [Bulbapedia: Galar](https://bulbapedia.bulbagarden.net/wiki/Galar)
- [Bulbapedia: Paldea](https://bulbapedia.bulbagarden.net/wiki/Paldea)
- [Bulbapedia: Regional Pokédex](https://bulbapedia.bulbagarden.net/wiki/Regional_Pok%C3%A9dex)

---

Source: https://pokee.si/articles/pokemon-regions-in-order (HTML page). pokee.si is an unofficial fan site and is not affiliated with Nintendo, Creatures, GAME FREAK or The Pokémon Company. Pokémon and all related names and images are © their respective owners.