>>51697467If you’re talking about the overall layout of the region and the way you progress through it then it’s Hoenn > Sinnoh = Johto > Kanto >>> all the others (They basically don’t count) without question, Gens 2-4 were the pinnacle as they really understood how to have the player progress in a way that feels natural to explore and uncover while still funneling the player through all the necessary spots
If you’re talking about the actual map design for the areas within the region then
Kalos > Sinnoh = Hoenn > Unova > Johto > Kanto > the rest
And I’ll die on that hill, Kalos really perfected route design in particular, most routes in Kalos have clear main paths that take you straight to the next area, but they’ll have optional detours that add way more substance to the route for those who are interested in a more in-depth adventure of the region. It’s perfect and caters to people like me who want to explore as much as possible, while also satisfying people who are more concerned with just progressing to the next area. Picrel is an example of what I mean, the black is the main path while the pink are the optional detours
