- For a list of every route, see List of routes.
A route is a type of location introduced in Generation I.
Description
A route consists usually of a straightforward vertical or horizontal path from one key destination to another, often towns or cities. There are two types of routes: land routes, which are explored on foot, and water routes, which take place on the water and require one of the player's Pokémon to use Surf to navigate. Many routes are inhabited by Wild Pokémon, which are usually encountered in tall grass on land and in the water while surfing. Most routes have Pokémon Trainers who are willing to battle the player. Certain routes have a gate between it and a key destination.
Routes are seldomly ever named, typically going by the format of "Route" followed by a number. The first ever route is Route 1 of the Kanto region, continuing numerically into the Johto region and ending with Route 48. Since the Hoenn games, the route numbers do not continue directly, with Route 101 being the first route of the Hoenn region, and similarly Route 201 of the Sinnoh region. Since Pokémon Black Version and Pokémon White Version, each generation introduces routes that start a 1, such as Route 1 of the Unova region. The routes in Sevii Islands are named, and some routes in Kalos are nicknamed.
Kanto
Routes in Kanto are usually simple and lack obstacles other than Pokémon Trainers. None of the routes have any weather effects either. Some of the routes are very short, and were shortened further in the Generation II games and the remakes Pokémon HeartGold Version and Pokémon SoulSilver Version.
Some routes have their own location, including Route 5, which has the Pokémon Day Care, and Route 17, which features a Cycling Road;
There are two underground paths that connect routes, with one of them connecting Routes 5 and 6, and another connecting Routes 7 and 8.
Johto
In Johto, with the addition of time, some wild Pokémon are encountered only during the day or night. Route 28, which is not in the Generation I games, can be used to go from Johto to Kanto and vice versa. The regional Pokémon Day Care is again located on a route, Route 32. One of the routes has a weather effect, Route 33, where it is raining. Unlike Kanto, none of the routes have a Cycling Road.
Most of the routes are simple, like Kanto. In Pokémon HeartGold Version and Pokémon SoulSilver Version only, there is a unique route titled Route 47, which has steep cliffs and bridges, making it more complex than other routes.
Hoenn
The routes of the Hoenn region are more enhanced, with some having features such as bridges and even taller grass. The Pokémon Day Care is located on Route 110. Unlike Johto, there is a Cycling Road in Hoenn, located on Route 110. Many routes are much longer than in previous generations. Hoenn has the most water routes compared to other regions. Unlike Kanto and Johto, there are no gates.
Sinnoh
The routes in Sinnoh are more similar to those of the Hoenn region, but some consist of several levels and many branches, being more complex. Some of the routes take place during a snowy landscape. The regional Cycling Road is located on Route 206.
Unova
The biggest difference with routes in Unova is that they are affected by seasons, affecting not only the rate of encountering wild Pokémon but also the environment, such as puddles freezing during the winter. The background music on most routes during the spring plays a drum beat. There is a landmark location on Route 6, the Season Research Lab, which researches the effects of seasons on Unova.
In Pokémon Black Version and Pokémon White Version, there are eighteen routes, but five more were added in Pokémon Black Version 2 and Pokémon White Version 2, for a total of 23.
Kalos
Each route of the Kalos region has its own nickname. The Pokémon Day Care is located on Route 7. Like Johto, none of the routes in Kalos has a Cycling Road.
Alola
The routes in Alola are more curved, not restricting the player to move around on a square grid.
Galar
There are not many routes in Galar because of Wild Areas, and routes were already in the process of being phased out by Generation VIII.
Paldea
There are no regular routes in Paldea because of open world exploration.