Unova

Unova is a fictional region in the Pokémon video game series, introduced in Black and White (2010). It is designed as a broad, urbanized area inspired by the eastern United States, with New York–style skylines and diverse habitats ranging from city streets to deserts and forests.

The region features a dense network of cities and routes, linked by rail and road. It hosts a large roster of Pokémon and introduced 156 new species across Black and White. Unova also introduced new battle formats such as triple battles and rotation battles, and presented a more cinematic 3D presentation on the Nintendo 3DS. The central plot follows the player as they contend with Team Plasma, whose declared goal is to free Pokémon from human oppression. The journey includes earning eight Gym badges to challenge the Pokémon League, and interactions with the region’s Champion Alder and rival N.

Notable locations include Striaton City, Castelia City, Nimbasa City, Driftveil City, and Opelucid City, each offering distinct facilities such as gyms, markets, stadiums, and landmarks. In Black and White, the narrative culminates in a confrontation that shapes the region’s future, while Black 2 and White 2 continue the story with Iris as Champion in the postgame era.

Unova’s design emphasizes urbanization and modernization within a fictional world, and its themes of identity, freedom, and the relationship between humans and Pokémon have continued to influence later entries in the series.