It is rare for a game to leave the kind of lasting impression that the original Planet of Lana did. Its quiet storytelling and delicate world stayed with me long after the credits rolled. So when Planet of Lana 2: Children of the Leaf was announced, my excitement was immediate, even if it came with a hint of nerves.
Sequels carry weight, especially when the first adventure felt so complete. I am thrilled to say that if the original left a planet sized mark on my heart, Planet of Lana 2 expands that to the size of a solar system.
Truth Beneath the Surface
Picking up after saving the world from an invading robot army, the sequel wastes little time, revealing that saving it was only the beginning. Lana and her faithful companion Mui set out once more, driven to uncover their world’s mysterious past and the forces still shaping it.
Along the way, Mui’s own backstory is explored in touching ways that make their partnership feel even more meaningful.
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I was thrilled they chose to continue the story from this moment. I needed the mystery solved, I needed closure, and Planet of Lana 2 delivered it. I won’t spoil the path it took to get there, but it was an emotional (and occasionally bumpy) journey that proves truth is worth uncovering.
Two Minds, One Solution
Planet of Lana 2 is a 2D narrative puzzle platformer built around cooperation. You control Lana directly while guiding Mui with a waypoint system, and that separation is where the magic lies. Every puzzle demands careful timing, positioning, and trust.
I loved the constant mental shuffle of deciding whether Lana needed to climb, dive, or distract, or whether Mui’s abilities were the true key.
Solving a puzzle with Mui involved directing him to interact with something in the world; like having him sit on a pressure switch to open a pathway, allowing Lana to pass through.
Directing him can feel unusual at first — like issuing instructions rather than moving him yourself — but as the challenges deepen, it becomes a strength. I started to think of it like a whistle. Come here, Mui. Good boy. It is a simple interaction, but it perfectly captures how these puzzles rely on cooperation and timing between the two.
Water-based puzzles are another strong addition. I have played plenty of water levels in my time that feel slow and clunky, but here everything just clicked. A clever flower mechanic lets Lana trap Mui inside a blooming pod and carry him underwater safely while she explores below.
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Mui’s New Tricks
Mui also has a few special powers of his own. By energising certain objects, he can control robots and reshape the environment to open new paths. My favourite twist came when those abilities extended to creatures.
In a standout moment, Mui transformed into a small fish, darting through the water and spraying ink to blind enemies while Lana escaped. It completely caught me off guard in the best way and kept the puzzle solving feeling fresh.
Hide, Think, Survive
Stealth, once again, plays a key role in the game. Dark creatures stand between you and safety, and if they spot Lana, the consequences are brutal. I am not usually a huge fan of stealth sections, but in Planet of Lana 2, each encounter felt more like a puzzle than a chore.
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They also dramatically increase the tension. Once spotted, every movement felt dangerous. I often had to send Mui into risky positions to draw attention away, watching closely as Lana darted past before pulling him back at the last possible second. When I finally made it beyond a persistent foe, the relief was very real, and Mui received a well-earned pat every single time.
A Living, Breathing Canvas
I could talk about the gameplay all day, but the visuals and audio are what truly stayed with me. The hand drawn art once again looks like a moving painting; improved lighting adding richer shadows and deeper contrast to make every area feel more alive. I often caught myself slowing down just to take it all in.
The soundtrack might be my favourite element of all. From a lone horn echoing through a cave, to the dramatic orchestral swell accompanying the sounds of the storm as you dash across spaceships; the music shapes the emotions of the scene, and often left me with goosebumps.
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A Confident Evolution
Planet of Lana 2 is not just a worthy successor, it is a confident evolution. The emotional storytelling hits harder, the world feels richer, and the expanded mechanics make every step feel meaningful. I laughed, I held my breath, and even shed a few Mui sized tears along the way. I genuinely struggled to put the controller down.
Some sequels simply repeat what worked, Planet of Lana 2 expands its world in all the right ways. This is one journey well worth launching into.
Quest Daily scores Planet of Lana 2: Children of the Leaf
9.5/10
Planet of Lana 2: Children of the Leaf launches on March 5th for Steam, Xbox Series S|X, PlayStation 5, Nintendo Switch and Nintendo Switch 2.
Access to Planet of Lana 2: Children of the Leaf was supplied to Quest Daily for the purpose of this review.
