Planet of Lana 2: Children of the Leaf takes a vastly different approach, starting with Lana explaining what happened in the first game (bet you didn’t know the planet actually had a name), after which we jump forward two years. What follows isn’t a manic chase, but something more subtle and assured, specifically Lana navigating the same wreckage. While a great primer for the game’s platforming and puzzle-solving, especially when regaining control of Mui, it’s also interspersed more heavily with subtitle-less cutscenes and expands further on the characters and their discoveries.

It’s something I return to when really examining the sequel as a whole. I wasn’t expecting a massive departure from the first game’s mechanics and general gameplay loop, more so some significant evolutions to the presentation and overall flow. Planet of Lana 2 isn’t exactly that, but it does offer numerous improvements in other areas, even more puzzle-solving that’s as seamless as it is occasionally head-scratching, and a gorgeous hand-painted art style. And honestly, that’s enough for how much it ultimately offers.

"Lana has grown faster in the past two years, which is reflected in her platforming, although it can still sometimes feel like she’s falling short of a critical jump and at risk of falling to an early grave. If anything, the levels feel more intricate now, boasting more unique sequences that leverage alternating between Lana and Mui."

As noted before, it’s two years later, and Lana is seeking to learn more about humanity and the Machines. While the circumstances are less dire as she makes her way through the village, it showcases how much everything has changed over the years, and how Machines are employed to help in daily tasks. Of course, as Lana has grown bolder – and exemplified her capability, as seen in the first game – it feels like there’s some distance between her and Elo, the latter still believing she needs to protect her. Lana, naturally, disagrees.

So when a child suddenly falls sick due to a mysterious ore dumped by the Dijinghala, tensions rise even higher. Elo ventures forth with the rest of the village guard to ultimately deal with them, while Lana and Mui have a more tertiary task – obtaining ingredients for medicine. As uninteresting as that initially sounds, however, their search takes them across multiple different biomes, including snow-covered mountain passes (which lead to high security bases) and tropical coasts with ample opportunity for swimming. And since this is a Planet of Lana game, you can rest assured that things will only escalate.

Honestly, I kind of like how multiple threads are unfolding at once. While the first game primarily showcased Lana and Mui, the second offers brief updates on what other central characters are up to in the meantime. Granted, the opening hour or so does break the gameplay flow a tad too often with its cutscenes, but after that set-up, it’s relatively smooth sailing.

Not that the world has grown any less dangerous, as indicated by the rise of the Dijinghala, a faction of humans who are mining for…something in the planet. Fortunately, Lana has grown faster in the past two years, which is reflected in her platforming, although it can still sometimes feel like she’s falling short of a critical jump and at risk of falling to an early grave. If anything, the levels feel more intricate now, boasting more unique sequences that leverage alternating between Lana and Mui.

"However, the pacing does feel a bit bogged down at times with the sheer number of puzzles. It was a complaint I had with the first game, and while Planet of Lana 2 does a better job at minimizing that feeling, it can still occasionally pop up."

For example, while traipsing through the Dijinghala’s mountain base, you’ll encounter a relatively harmless nest of creatures that Mui can control. Using their threads, it’s possible to create pathways to burn any thick webbing or cause living platforms to momentarily retract. This can then come into play later when dealing with a mining robot that’s attracted to glowing ore. One particularly slick sequence involves attracting the robot with the ore, controlling a creature to deposit some threading, and then ensuring it makes it all the way to your destination without being shot by a sentry turret.

Except you eventually need it to be shot to ignite the thread. It’s not the toughest puzzle solution to sus out – which could apply to many such situations in Children of the Leaf – but it does mix up the overall gameplay flow more than the previous game. Some puzzles also rely heavily on nailing the actual execution instead of just assembling the pieces in the right order, so there are still plenty of triumphant moments to be had when everything goes according to plan.

Besides igniting threads, dodging (and shutting down) turrets, sneaking around to avoid detection, and rendering lethal ores inert by commanding Mui to sit on top of them, you’ll also have to do a lot of swimming as Lana when you’re not remotely controlling drones to transport them to higher places. There’s also a decent number of tense platforming-heavy sequences, like escaping from a cavern that’s quickly filling with toxic gas while climbing aboard a giant moving drill.

However, the pacing does feel a bit bogged down at times with the sheer number of puzzles. It was a complaint I had with the first game, and while Planet of Lana 2 does a better job at minimizing that feeling, it can still occasionally pop up. Some puzzles also feel just about as contrived, if not more so, owing to their increased complexity, which may sometimes take you out of the experience.

"Even if it didn’t immediately “wow” me like its predecessor, I can’t deny that this is a well-crafted puzzle-platforming experience, which excels at constantly driving me forward, waiting to see what the next area holds (and hoping that I don’t accidentally get Lana or Mui killed)."

Thankfully, the overall atmosphere, attention to detail and presentation will bring you right back. Even if you’ve experienced the most gorgeous narrative platformers of the past several years, Planet of Lana 2’s style still feels distinct. The colors radiate as much while traversing across the coast as they become more subdued and ominous while swimming deep underwater or spelunking in caverns. Then there’s the music, which remains as sweeping and emotional as ever thanks to composer Takeshi Furukawa, the sound design and the voice acting. Even if it’s in a made-up language, the tone of each character’s voice is more than enough to convey their mood and general thoughts. Seeing Lana, who yelled excitedly through the opening Chapter, becoming more deflated and sad after her friend falls sick, just highlights how much the little details matter.

That said, it’s easy to walk into Planet of Lana 2 and feel an overwhelming sense of deja vu for the original. Some will appreciate this because the first game remains a strong, cinematic platformer, and seeing the sequel benefit from a much larger scale and more varied gameplay is a good thing. However, you could also lament that it’s fundamentally similar without any major leaps in the storytelling format or even a killer hook that really sets it apart, aside from the narrative style and visuals.

Frankly, I’m somewhere in the middle but leaning towards appreciating Children of the Leaf for everything that it does well (and there is plenty). Even if it didn’t immediately “wow” me like its predecessor, I can’t deny that this is a well-crafted puzzle-platforming experience, which excels at constantly driving me forward, waiting to see what the next area holds (and hoping that I don’t accidentally get Lana or Mui killed).

This game was reviewed on the PC.

Xbox Series S, on the other hand, will run Planet of Lana 2: Children of the Leaf at 1440p/60 FPS. The Nintendo Switch 2 will run it at 720p/60 FPS in handheld mode, and 1080p/60 FPS when docked. Since it is a side-scrolling platforming puzzle game, Wishfully has confirmed that we won’t be seeing any PS5 Pro-specific enhancements.

As for players that might have missed out on the original Planet of Lana, creative director and co-game director Adam Stjärnljus has noted that there’s nothing to worry about. Despite being a continuation of its predecessor, Planet of Lana 2: Children of the Leaf has been designed to be welcoming to new players without feeling lost.

Planet of Lana 2: Children of the Leaf was announced back in June 2025, and along with current-gen platforms, is also slated for release on PS4, Xbox One and the original Nintendo Switch.

Being a follow-up to the original Planet of Lana, it once more follows the story of Lana and Mui, and while the planet isn’t in any imminent danger for now, there are plenty of dark secrets left to be discovered under the surface. The journey that players have to take is slated to be an epic one, taking them across frozen peaks, deep oceans, and forgotten ruins.

Much like Planet of Lana, Planet of Lana 2: Children of the Leaf will also make extensive use of its stylized visuals thanks to its hand-painted world. The game will once more also feature no spoken word of dialogue. Rather, characters will make use of an alien language to express themselves. This, along with the visuals and music, will be the primary method for players to experience the central story.

Just last month, Wishfully released a trailer giving us a look at gameplay, as well as a lush new forest region called Wemari. The trailer placed an emphasis on the importance of the player’s own puzzle-solving prowess and desire for exploration to get through the game’s many challenges. While Lana has to often hide from dangerous foes, she can also make use of Mui’s unique abilities to take advantage of the natural world around her.

The original Planet of Lana was released back in 2023 on PC, Xbox One, and Xbox Series X/S. It would eventually come to PS4, PS5 and Nintendo Switch in 2024. In our review, we gave it a score of 9 out of 10 thanks to its striking visuals, well-designed puzzles, and interesting and well-paced narrative. Our only gripe with the game was a feeling that there might have been too many puzzles spread out throughout its world.

The original Planet of Lana was widely praised for its striking art direction. How is the sequel building on that visually, are there specific techniques or artistic goals you’re pushing this time?

Adam Stjärnljus: For Planet of Lana 2 we wanted to build on the visuals from the first game, but at the same time kick things up as many notches as possible while staying true to Novo’s identity. The second game tells a deeper, more complex and slightly darker story, so one notable upgrade is an overhaul of the lighting system which allows for more moody scenes in addition to the lush, ghibli inspired pastures players have come to expect from our games.

"We wanted to build on the visuals from the first game, but at the same time kick things up as many notches as possible while staying true to Novo’s identity."

Because biomes are more varied and diverse (Snowy mountains, dark forests and tropical reefs to mention a few), the visual style had to evolve to cater to a wider geographical playing field as well which was quite challenging. How do you retain the core visual identity I just mentioned in a snowstorm? Or deep under the ocean? It’s been a long process and a challenge but luckily we have an extremely talented art team.

The environments in Planet of Lana 2 look far more varied. What can you tell us about the range of locations and biomes we’ll explore, and how they differ in tone or gameplay?

Klas Martin Eriksson: In addition to revisiting some familiar ground, and seeing how it has evolved since the first game, players will get to experience a snowy mountain world full of blizzards and strange creatures, a lush tropical underwater world inhabited by electric sharks and tiny ink fishes, an ancient forest with a sprawling village and even urban environments to mention a few. Because the story examines how Novo has evolved with the arrival of modern alien tech, It was important for us to expand the world and show the impact across as many corners of Novo as possible.

With that increased variety in settings, how are puzzles being designed to feel more dynamic and context-specific to each area, rather than “one-size-fits-all”?

Adam Stjärnljus: One of the things we are most excited about is Mui’s expanded telepathic/hypnotic ability. Each biome contains unique creatures and machines that Mui can hypnotize, allowing the player to take full control of them and use their unique abilities to solve puzzles, manipulate each environment and progress through the world. Each creature is uniquely adapted to its native terrain, and players will need to figure out how to use them to their advantage in any new environment.

"Each biome contains unique creatures and machines that Mui can hypnotize"

How are the core puzzle-solving mechanics evolving overall, new tools, new interactions, or new ways Lana and Mui can work together?

Adam Stjärnljus: In many different ways! Notably the player can now point and direct Mui all over the screen, allowing for bigger puzzles that demand a bit more exploration and thought from players. This really kicks Lana and Mui’s collaboration into gear and once players get a handle on the increased control, they will instantly notice how it opens up for more varied, fun and bigger puzzle solving. It will also demand a bit more thought as to where Lana and Mui need to be in relation to each other, each using their own position and abilities to progress through the world.

The sequel introduces hybrid robots, which seem like a major new threat. What kinds of scenarios or challenges do they create, more stealth pressure, more action, or more puzzle-driven encounters?

Klas Martin Eriksson: Because of how the relationship between the different tribes of Novo and the robot invaders has evolved since the first game, not all robot encounters are life threatening any more. Lana and Mui’s abilities have expanded and both individually and as a duo they have grown into more formidable robot tamers. Granted, they are no John Rambos, but Mui’s new hypnotic/jamming ability allows her to temporarily disable hostile robots, even allowing Lana to swoop in, hack and take control of some of them. As far as what this new dynamic adds in terms of the gameplay aspects you mentioned; All of the above.

On the story side, how does Planet of Lana 2 follow up on the events of the first game without giving too much away?

Klas Martin Eriksson: As we touched on earlier, players will rejoin Lana and Mui in time of great change and upheaval; both personal, and planetary. The arrival of the robots have really shaken things up and there is a new tribe on the rise; The Dijinghala. They use the new tech to mine the planet’s natural resources, something that has dire consequences for the whole planet.

Lana herself is in the midst of an identity crisis following her first adventure. After uncovering hidden secrets of her people’s and the invading robots’ origins, she spends most of her time in the dark corners of Novo, scouring the planet for more answers. Unfortunately, this pastime – that sometimes borders on obsession – often gets her and her loved ones into trouble. Players will also get to explore much more of Mui’s origin story, and how she connects to the bigger picture of the lore.

"Lana herself is in the midst of an identity crisis following her first adventure."

For returning players, should we expect subtle callbacks—visual motifs, lore hints, or story threads that reward familiarity with the original?

Klas Martin Eriksson: Definitely plenty of both subtle, and not-so-suble callbacks.

And for newcomers, how approachable is the sequel as a standalone experience? Will players who didn’t play the first game still be able to fully follow the story and character arcs?

Adam Stjärnljus: While the story is a chronological continuation of the first game, new players can comfortably jump directly into the second game without feeling lost. The story is gripping on its own – but just in case – we’ve added a short prologue at the start of the game to give new players some context, and old players a quick refresher of their last visit to Novo.

On PS5 and Xbox Series X, what are your resolution and frame-rate targets? Will there be multiple modes (Quality/Performance), and what do those look like?

For both PS5 and Xbox Series X the game runs beautifully in 4k, 60 fps. We do not have multiple modes to choose from.

"While the story is a chronological continuation of the first game, new players can comfortably jump directly into the second game without feeling lost."

On PS5 Pro specifically, what resolution and FPS targets are you aiming for in each mode (Quality vs Performance)?

Same here, 4k, 60 fps. Given we have a stylized side-scrolling game, this makes sense for us.

On Xbox Series S and Switch 2, what resolution and frame-rate targets should players expect, and is 60 FPS on the table?

On Xbox Series S the game runs in 60fps at 1440p and on Switch 2 in 720p 60fps in handheld mode and 1080p 60 fps docked.

The art style is what you’d expect from Wishfully’s excellent rendition of a planet as wondrous as it is dangerous, while the level design looks like it’s going to need both wit and skill to navigate. Thankfully, Mui is as cooperative as ever and has even learned to use the environment to be very helpful indeed. Lana meets some friends along the way, pointing to potential rescue missions popping up as you navigate areas on the planet.

The soundtrack deserves a special mention, and it looks like Takeshi Furukawa has done some fine work on the sequel, just as he did in the first game. We were quite happy with that one, by the way, and think that its success bodes well for Children of the Leaf as it looks like it’s building on the first game’s best features in meaningful ways.

We’re quite close to this one’s final release, but there’s a playable demo on the PS4, Xbox Series X/S, Xbox One, PC and PS5 to try out before you pick up a copy. The full game launches on March 5th for the above platforms and Nintendo Switch 1 and 2.

Furthermore, Tokyo Game Show 2025 attendees can go hands-on with the platformer from September 25th to 28th. As a direct follow-up to the original, Planet of Lana 2 promises double the size and scope as Lana and Mui explore the planet Novo and learn more about its mysteries.

Players will once again control Lana, issuing commands to Mui (who now has “enhanced precision”) to solve puzzles and sneak past enemies. Hybrid robots promise a new challenge, but Lana is also more agile with new moves like wall jumping. She’ll need it to deal with a mysterious new “threat” and confront her own darkness.

Planet of Lana 2: Children of the Leaf launches in early 2026. Stay tuned for more details in the coming months.

The sequel expands on the first game’s puzzle-solving mechanics with new robots, which introduce additional solutions. Stealth is as important as ever, with the developer promising “refined” mechanics and “enhanced precision” with Mui. Of course, there are still plenty of action sequences, though Lana is far more agile.

Alongside wall jumps and running slides, she moves faster than before, which will come in handy during the new underwater sections. If that weren’t enough, composer Takeshi Furukawa also returns for the soundtrack.

Planet of Lana 2: Children of the Leaf is also coming to Game Pass on day one. Stay tuned for more announcements and gameplay in the coming months, and check out our review for the original.

Launched in May 2023 for Xbox Series X/S, Xbox One, and PC (while also playable on Game Pass), Planet of Lana stars the titular protagonist on a mysterious planet. Once an overwhelming machine force invades, however, Lana embarks on a journey to rescue her sister and villagers while confronting many dangers.

She doesn’t go it alone, though, as a strange creature named Mui joins her. Players can issue commands to Mui to bypass different obstacles and solve puzzles while sneaking past and fleeing from the machines. As she delves deeper into the planet’s past, it becomes clear that recent events are more than they seem.

With its Studio Ghibli-esque art style, Planet of Lana has garnered acclaim for its presentation, puzzles, and narrative. Check out our review for more details.

In the closing moments of Nintendo’s recent Indie World Showcase, it was announced that Planet of Lana is headed to the Switch. The game will launch for Nintendo’s hybrid platform sometime in Spring 2024, though a specific release date (or further details about what the port will entail) haven’t been shared. The game will also launch for PlayStation consoles at the same time, it’s been confirmed.

“We’re delighted to be bringing Planet of Lana to Switch and PlayStation in Spring 2024,” said Wishfully Studios’ director Adam Stjärnljus. “We want to share our game with as many people as possible, so this is something we are very excited about. Thanks to all the fans that helped make Planet of Lana a success on PC and console and thanks to the Nintendo Switch and PlayStation communities for your patience – I promise we will do our best to make it worth the wait!”

In our review of Planet of Lana, we awarded it a score of 9/10, saying, “Planet of Lana is an incredible journey. It’s a down-to-earth traipse through a unique but endearing off-world setting, with tight pacing and excellent presentation underscoring a tale of camaraderie and familial devotion. Whether it’s the incredible visuals or the stellar gameplay, it’s worth your time.” Read the full review through here.

Planet of Lana is currently available on Xbox Series X/S, Xbox One, and PC.

Planet of Lana takes place in Novo and follows the titular protagonist, Lana. After her sister and fellow villagers are kidnapped by invading machines, she embarks on a journey to find them. She meets a cute creature named Mui, and together, the two cooperate to bypass obstacles, outsmart the machines with stealth and cunning, and learn more about Novo.

With gorgeous hand-painted visuals, excellent pacing and compelling exploration, Planet of Lana is worth checking out (read more in our review). Of course, the game’s launch isn’t the end, as the developer confirmed that rebindable controls and additional accessibility options were coming “as soon as possible.” In the meantime, bug fixes will go live later this week, so stay tuned.

However, things quickly take a turn when mysterious machines suddenly enter the planet’s atmosphere. Ilo is kidnapped, and as Lana returns to the village, the once-peaceful surroundings are smoldering, the screams of its residents echoing throughout. The machines capture everyone to some mysterious end, and the previously playful chase gives way to a tense and desperate attempt to escape, as your stealth skills are tested.

"Everything is exquisitely presented, with slow zoom-outs emphasizing the scale of the world and its beauty, while the framing creates this overwhelming contrast."

This contrast is just one example of Planet of Lana’s incredible attention to detail. The narrative effortlessly flows from a peaceful setting to one of strife while acquainting you with the gameplay, world, and characters. Lana is motivated to find her sister, and given her relatively young age, it’s unlikely she knows what awaits out in the wilderness. The fauna and flora encountered are almost as foreign to her as the player, and you start to question the planet’s very nature.

What exactly is happening, why the machines are kidnapping humans, and much more slowly unfolds throughout the narrative. There are no subtitles for the unique language that Lana and her people speak (which makes the initial game of chase much more significant in learning her sister’s name). As a result, much of the storytelling is through the environment. You’ll witness other villages abandoned or assailed, likely due to the machines, but also uncover dark caves brimming with secrets.

Each location tells a story, and the cutscenes flow naturally with the pacing, either as gorgeous establishing shots of environments or highlighting what seems to be the machines’ mothership. Everything is exquisitely presented, with slow zoom-outs emphasizing the scale of the world and its beauty, while the framing creates this overwhelming contrast. Lana isn’t your typical hero, and she’s definitely out of her depth, but she’ll do anything to save her sister.

Of course, Lana doesn’t undertake the journey alone. A small creature named Mui, whom she rescues from a machine’s trap, accompanies her. Mui climbs through environments easily, leaping up to bring down a rope for Lana to climb. It can also navigate tight spaces that Lana can’t crawl through, venture down holes to distract enemies and much more.

"The puzzles feel natural and rationally thought-out – examining your surroundings and an enemy’s patterns, along with some moderately good reflexes, is often the path to success."

Mui also needs help, since it isn’t a fan of swimming and can’t break through boarded-up areas. There are times when you’ll build bridges for each character, helping the other to cross. As they overcome more hardships, the dynamic between Lana and Mui evolves. In addition to jumping, climbing and dropping down from ledges, Lana can also issue commands to Mui. You can tell it to follow or stay and specify a target location. It seems simple, but the initial puzzles do an incredible job of playing with this dynamic.

You’ll start with Mui staying on some weird fauna to create a bridge for Lana to cross. Then you’re instructing Mui to go down a hole to distract a machine while climbing around it with Lana or distracting a giant creature with her and then escaping before it can reach while commanding Mui to activate a light to keep it at bay. The puzzles grow in complexity, especially when introducing new mechanics, but it’s to Planet of Lana’s credit that it naturally eases you in.

Since Lana and Mui need to survive each encounter, there may have been some frustration with each failure. However, the puzzles feel natural and rationally thought-out – examining your surroundings and an enemy’s patterns, along with some moderately good reflexes, is often the path to success. And even if you die, a healthy amount of checkpoints and fast loading times ensure you’re quickly back in the action.

Lana does feel less floaty than your average platforming hero (or Mui). You’ll have to account for momentum while jumping – no changing directions in mid-air. Nevertheless, the controls feel responsive and natural. It takes some time to get used to directing Mui to certain spots since the cursor somewhat snaps to vantage points, but it becomes seamless enough to handle.

"However, it’s all the more incredible how Wishfully also captures the themes of family, becoming attuned to the environment, and survival, instead of brutal killing."

Visually, Planet of Lana is gorgeous. The environments and backgrounds look hand painted and animate realistically, whether you’re traversing a forest or gazing upon the horizon as the ocean stretches out. No scene feels extraneous or excessive in its details. The lighting and color palette reflect the tone of various situations, from bright and wondrous to dark and mysterious, without being too overpowering or overstated. At times, it’s like a balancing game, one that successfully defines the experience.

However, it’s all the more incredible how Wishfully also captures the themes of family, becoming attuned to the environment, and survival, instead of brutal killing. The animations are also impeccable. Lana will tilt her head towards objects of interest, and the machines shift seamlessly from searching and scanning to outright hostility.

Then there’s the soundtrack and effects. Orchestrations swell joyfully as Lana chases Ilo and boom with tension when the machines land. It’s understated but still somewhat positive when traveling with Mui, as the sound of birds and the wind carries through different environments. And even without understanding the language, the voice work is stellar. Hearing Lana’s intonation change based on the situation and Mui chuckling at times further reinforces their camaraderie.

In many ways, Planet of Lana is reminiscent of Playdead’s Inside. It’s tautly paced with well-executed puzzles but also carried by an undercurrent of mystery as you delve further into the world, keen on getting answers. Plus, they both have that same feeling of the world being out to get you.

"Overall, Planet of Lana is a beautiful experience with tight gameplay, a compelling and well-designed world, and a strong narrative anchored by two likeable leads and an imposing threat."

Planet of Lana differs in the connection between Lana, Mui and the world itself. Instead of various enemies and occurrences instilling isolation as more surreal events occur, there is a feeling of empathy to go with the wonder. The world is dangerous, but it can also be beautiful; lending its aid or opposing you equally.

In terms of performance, the game ran flawlessly with no issues whatsoever on PC. I spotted one bug, which had no impact on my experience. Though rebindable controls aren’t available, Wishfully has assured that they’ll be patched, along with accessibility features and an option to turn off the UI, as soon as possible. Not that the lack of such options affected my experience – even the default controls felt great – but it’s nice to have them.

Some minor puzzles may have been trimmed to further tighten the pacing. There also isn’t much by way of replay value – there are hidden areas and chapter selection to revisit previous sections, and that’s it. Not that it’s a detriment in any way. It’s hard to find any fault at all, really.

Overall, Planet of Lana is a beautiful experience with tight gameplay, a compelling and well-designed world, and a strong narrative anchored by two likeable leads and an imposing threat. This year – heck, even this quarter – could see it fall under the radar of some big blockbusters. However, the odyssey of Lana and Mui is worth undertaking and remembering.

This game was reviewed on PC.