The setting of Pokémon Black and White is the Unova region.
Unova is a large region located far from the earlier Pokémon regions, including Kanto, Johto, Hoenn, and Sinnoh. Unlike those settings, which draw heavily on parts of Japan, Unova was designed primarily around New York City and its surrounding landmarks.
Castelia City reflects the influence of Manhattan, while Skyarrow Bridge evokes the Brooklyn Bridge. The region also includes ports, bridges, an airport, an amusement park, rural routes, and mountain areas. This broader urban and multicultural design was a deliberate change in visual direction for the fifth generation.
Black and White introduce the player to Unova through the towns of Nuvema, Accumula, and Striaton, before the journey expands across the region’s eight Gyms and Pokémon League. A common mix-up is choosing Sinnoh or Hoenn because they are earlier game regions; those belong to Diamond and Pearl and Ruby and Sapphire, respectively.