I prefer Hoenn and Unova's mostly linear design with lots of optional exploration (on the macro level, on the micro I kind of wish Unova had slightly better map design but that's in comparison to Hoenn so that shit isn't fair to begin with). Kanto and Johto are fine but their more open elements are detrimental to the game overall and Kalos and Galar's fucking nothing but linear garbage are too hard in the other direction. Alola's design varies wildly from island to island but only the second is exceptionally bad. Paldea is open world slop but that's by design so whatever. Sinnoh just has problems, I dunno how else to say it because no matter how I look at it I can't ascertain a design philosophy aside from "Mt. Coronet" which is the best part of the region but everything else doesn't work nearly as well.
