Pokémon Scarlet and Violet’s open world, explained

Scarlet and Violet are opening up the world for exploration

Pokemon Scarlet and Violet are here, ushering in a new generation of Pokemon. And while it’s a mainline Pokemon game, Scarlet and Violet are using the open world to make for an even-grander adventure.

Yes, Pokemon Scarlet and Violet are open world adventures. As Nintendo and Game Freak have made clear, the Paldea region is completely open to explore. Here’s their definition:

“A new evolutionary step in the Pokemon series, in Pokemon Scarlet & Pokemon Violet you’ll be able to freely explore a rich open world. A world filled with towns & cities that blend seamlessly into the wilderness with no borders!”

Roam where you want to

What does this mean in practice? Well, you can essentially chart your own course through the Paldea region. Maybe you want to chase down a certain Pokemon, or go see what’s over that mountain range? It’s your call.

Fittingly, the story has also been broken into different segments and accommodates players who want to play in their own order. Gyms can be tackled in any order.

Or maybe taking on the troublesome Team Star is more your speed. This region’s antagonistic team is made up of rebellious students, all with their own boss to take down.

For the pacifists and explorers, the Path of Legends also awaits. There, you can search for the ancient Herba Mystica, trying to track down extremely rare herbs defended by Titan Pokemon.

There are many adventures to tackle in Paldea, and all of them are open for you to explore. Anywhere, any time.