By Rob Leane

Published: Wednesday, 03 August 2022 at 12:00 am


The Paldea region has been revealed as the central location of Pokémon Scarlet and Violet, the new RPG titles that will launch on Switch later this year.

Long-rumoured to be inspired by the Mediterranean coast of Spain, Paldea looks like a sun-soaked locale that would make for a wonderful holiday destination if it was real.

This isn’t the first Europe-like region to appear in the Pokémon franchise. Frequent travellers into this critter-infested world will remember the UK-centric Galar region from Pokémon Sword and Shield, and before that we visited the France-like Kalos in Pokémon X and Y.

Perhaps one day there’ll be a game that lets us travel across the Pokémon version of Europe in one epic trip. Until then, keep on reading and we’ll tell you all about the Paldea region that will debut in Pokémon Scarlet and Violet.

Paldea region: Pokémon Scarlet and Violet map revealed

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Our first look at the Paldea region map app.
Game Freak

The Paldea region is the main location you’ll explore in Pokémon Scarlet and Violet, which will be the first game in the franchise to offer a fully open world.

Paldea is such a big region that you’ll need to ride around on a legendary Pokémon, either Koraidon or Miraidon, travelling across land, sea and air to catch a glimpse of it all.

Unlike the experiences you might’ve had in other Pokémon regions, in Paldea you’ll be able to tackle the eight gyms in whichever order your like. There will also be a treasure hunt across the region that was mentioned several times in the recent Pokémon Presents live stream event.

The official press release describes Paldea as “a land of vast open spaces dotted with lakes, towering peaks, wastelands, and mountain ranges”.

In Paldea, it’s said that “people and Pokémon [are] living together in a variety of locations, ranging from a farming village with bountiful harvests to a port town with a bustling marketplace. There are also Pokémon living in treetops, rivers, and other locations in the wilderness.”