The Makings of a Good Route

[Devalue]

Criticizes some routes, forests, and caves because of them being too linear, too long, too many HMs, too empty, and other reasons. Cannot think of many places pointed out as examples of areas with good gameplay. Brings up things like music and visuals sometimes (which are fair factors). Hoped to hear about other gameplay elements too. Was there a lot of explore? Does something happen there? Why was that particular area interesting to go through?

Specifically asks for places that are not cities or towns, to be clear. Typically sticks more activities in those places. Accepts places like the Kanto Power Plant, the Ruins of Alph in Johto, or the Lost Hotel in Kalos. Functions similarly to some caves.
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Thought of two areas:

• Route 15/16 (X/Y): Consists of a large pier, a few directions to wander, an optional mini-dungeon, and some places to revisit with Waterfall. Gave the trainers here good Pokemon variety. Sees Sky Trainers, Roller Skaters, Pokemon Rangers, Hex Maniacs, Fairy Tale Girls, and Fisherman between the two routes, including a double battle on each route.
  
  
• Glimwood Tangle (Sword/Shield): Likes the atmosphere and lighting. Sends you down the twisting paths for extra items. Could also hang right and leave the area in a few minutes, if so desired. Kept it pretty light on trainers (three battles). Never felt too dark to navigate either, unlike some other dark areas.

 

[Explorer of Time]

Route 119 in Hoenn is my personal favorite route. A beautiful rainforest, multiple distinct areas with the Mimic Circle long grass at the bottom (the very first long grass in the series, in fact), where you gradually climb up hills across a giant river in the middle of the route with waterfalls along the way, places to backtrack to once you get Waterfall yourself, and a good amount of trainers to fight, including a rival battle that's on the easier side of things. The Weather Institute is also there, though I personally count it as a separate location.

 

[Delta Crowned Sword]

I will go with Skyarrow Bridge and the forest before it(not remember the name). It was very nice experience and that too came very early in the game. I consider Skyarrow Bridge to be a marvel in NDS era.



And other to be Mt. Coronet and my personal favorite "Distortion Word".

I had never seen any route like in the case of Distortion World. Was amusing when I was playing Platinum for first time. Want to see more of it in the upcoming games.

 

[Zeostar]

Bad: Kanto Route 9 and Kanto Route 12. Feels like endless trainer gauntlets without much change in scenery.

Favorite: Route 27 Kanto. (seen in johto). It leads to Victory Road and there's lots of Ace Trainers with pokemon variety. You also go in and out of a cave and there are some surfing sections.

It's everything I consider in a fun route. I enjoy it on every playthrough.

 

[Setsuna]

I've never put much thought into what makes a good route. But I think some of my favourite routes are ones that are just aesthetically unique. I think of something like Johto Route 32 with the wooden bridge under the Magnet Train, Hoenn Route 119 with the tall grass and constant crossing over one giant river, Kalos Route 15 with the autumn leaves along the ground, or Sinnoh Route 227 with the ash falling from the sky and the ropes to bike across. If a route looks interesting or unique to show off the kinds of Pokemon that live there and/or have an interesting way of navigating through it, I consider it a good route. I don't really pay much attention to how much side content a route needs to have, since I consider those areas like caves completely separate places.

 

[ReKoil]

Good Pokemon variety, not too many trainers (but still some for Exp, unless it's a postgame area in which case no trainers at all is perfectly fine). Preferably some kind of visual that doesn't feel like I just saw something like it 1 or 2 routes ago.
As for items... I do always pick up any I see, but they're more of a bonus than a requirement imo.

SwSh & SV nailed it in the Pokemon variety part. SV overdid the amount of trainers as there's way too many (though only if you fully explore the map as otherwise you can skip a lot of them).
I rather liked all of the Crown Tundra area due to their Pokemon variety and the scenery of the areas themselves. Not having to wade through hordes of trainers was great too.

 

[𒈟Lavemu𒐫]

I liked route 17 from alola, the rainy atmosphere leading up to po town was cool.

 

[PoryKid575]

The best Pokemon routes to me tend to be the ones that have some kind of unique atmosphere/environment, good music, a large variety of Pokemon, some degree of exploration and optional side-areas or secrets to find. Examples that come to mind include Routes 47/48 in HGSS for having a really cool theme and being where you encounter the weather trio and Route 119 for being packed to the gills with trainers and side paths to explore.