Planet of Lana II: Children of the Leaf

A good-but-not-great first half holds it back though, as the best platforming puzzles and story revelations are saved for the dramatic finale. If the ending of the game is any indication, we should expect another game in this series. And if the latter half of Planet of Lana II is evidence of the direction of where the gameplay of this series is going, I cannot wait to see that third game.

Planet of Lana 2 offered exactly what I wanted from a puzzle-platformer that engages on both an intellectual and emotional level. It’s an upgrade from the first game and one I’d highly recommend to any puzzle-platforming fan.

A visually intoxicating journey across an alien world, as full of cute critters as it is murderous robots. Planet of Lana 2 builds on the original game with a wider scope and worthwhile mechanical changes. The mix of stealth, platforming and Mui-based puzzles keeps Lana's journey feeling fresh throughout.

Planet of Lana 2 won’t tickle the dopamine centers of your gamer brain, but there’s a very strong chance it will pull on your heartstrings. More than this, it will engage your imagination like few other games can, presenting its one-of-a-kind world with the utmost confidence and panache. And with best-in-class art direction and arresting musical composition to boot, Lana 2 is more than deserving of a spot on the narrative-platformer Mount Rushmore, right alongside the likes of Inside and Gris.

Featuring new gameplay mechanics, greater world exploration, and a story that connects the past with the present, Planet of Lana II delivers what is expected from a sequel: evolution without losing its essence. Working together once again to solve various types of puzzles, Lana and Mui explore a world rich in detail, with stunning visuals and a soundtrack that elevates the adventure.

Planet of Lana II: Children of the Leaf is a story driven puzzle platformer that focuses on atmosphere and character connection. The puzzles are varied but generally easy, keeping the experience smooth and well-paced. While it's polished and engaging, its short length and light challenge may leave some players wanting more.

Planet of Lana 2 is one of those sequels that does not simply add more content, but genuinely tries to justify its own existence. While the first game focused heavily on mystery, atmosphere, and the relationship between Lana and Mui, this sequel chooses to grow alongside its characters: it expands the world, deepens its conflicts, and finally provides answers that the first game intentionally left unresolved. I’ll leave the ending spoiler-free: you’ll decide for yourselves whether it delivers. The influence of Hayao Miyazaki and Studio Ghibli is not merely aesthetic, but also ethical and philosophical. The relationship between Lana and Mui also evolves very effectively. Mui is no longer simply an ally found by chance; it now has its own story and reason for existing. And it is precisely when narrative and gameplay mechanics intertwine that Planet of Lana 2 truly shines. Planet of Lana 2 is not a perfect game. The opening section is too slow, and for several hours I genuinely feared I was facing little more than “more of the same.” Some environmental puzzles are more cumbersome than truly clever, and the stiffness of movement and jumping remains a limitation, especially during the more intense sequences. Still, overall, Planet of Lana 2 feels like a strong sequel with something meaningful to say and a real desire to expand its narrative universe. Anyone who loved the first game should absolutely play it, especially because they will finally find the answers they were looking for.

Planet of Lana 2: Children of the Leaf proves that you don’t need a hundred hours of filler to create a masterpiece because it delivers pure handcrafted magic instead. It takes everything that worked in the first game, like the Ghibli-style art and that deep, silent storytelling and dials it up to eleven with smarter puzzles and a much more reactive orchestral score.

Wishfully's sequel may top the original in specific respects, but scattershot vision & execution translates to something less than the sum of its parts.

I think this game was fine. I think my expectations were too high, and that maybe I should have played the first game because I was hearing so many good things, which might have heightened my thoughts on what a sequel would have been. I feel like I got a decent amount of satisfaction out of the game. In terms of recommending it to someone, I think they would need to be more invested in the storytelling compared to wanting a great platforming or puzzle experience.