Planet of Lana 2 review: an emotional hand-painted sequel worth the wait

There’s a rare kind of magic in games that feel both intimate and epic at the same time. Planet of Lana 2: Children of the Leaf strikes this balance with confidence, extending Lana and her loyal companion Mui’s story across icy mountains and the depths of forgotten oceans. While the first game charmed with subtle storytelling and elegant 2D design, Planet of Lana 2 widens the scope, layering in (slightly) tougher puzzles, stealth sequences, greater movement, and a story that hits harder emotionally.

At first glance, Planet of Lana 2 might seem like another hand-painted puzzle-platformer; it may even seem like much more of the same you played in Lana 1 (which it is), but its artistry immediately sets it apart, and its nods to Studio Ghibli are more evident than ever. Every frame of Novo’s landscape bursts with detail: textured clouds, swaying grasses, and environmental storytelling that rewards careful observation. One scene, towards the end, where the twin suns dip below the horizon, recalled the classic Star Wars vista, not just as a homage, but because the camera and world feel genuinely cinematic.

Gameplay builds elegantly on the first game’s formula. The dual-character mechanics between Lana and Mui form the heart of the experience. Guiding Mui with one stick while navigating Lana across perilous landscapes creates a subtle tension where every leap or wall jump feels earned – oh yes, Lana can now wall jump, dash, and slide, and it's all needed. Negotiating traps, cameras, snowstorms, and monstrous sea creatures, the bond between Lana and Mui really shines.

Puzzles, platforms and invention

Puzzles range from intuitively satisfying to genuinely clever. Planet of Lana 2 leans on environmental and physics-based challenges while introducing inventive musical trials in the third act that made me pause, break out the pencil and paper, and solve it in an old-fashioned way through observation and note-taking. This puzzle had Lana composing melodies to lure a mysterious creature and was both a test of wits and a treat for the senses. As a side note, Takeshi Furukawa’s returning score complements Lana’s journey, deepening the emotional resonance of each scene without ever overwhelming it.

Planet of Lana 2 respects its 2D roots while nudging the genre forward. Its lineage is clear, from Flashback to Limbo, yet it finds its own space through refined pacing, dual-hero puzzles, and the interplay of platforming, stealth, and exploration. Puzzles blend naturally into the platforming, encouraging experimentation and fostering connection not just to mechanics, but to the characters themselves. This is helped by the broader, more flexible move-set, making for some deftly timed acrobatic platform-puzzles.

Mechanically and emotionally, Mui evolves from puzzle helper to full-fledged companion. Guiding creatures, manipulating machinery, and assisting in stealth sequences all feel earned while reinforcing the bond with Lana. The dual-character system strengthens both narrative and play, making every moment, from exploration to tense action, matter.

A story worth telling

The story is where Planet of Lana 2 really flexes. Without spoiling any twists, it moves back and forth across time periods, teasing out the mysteries of Novo and the planet’s past. Lana’s journey is as much emotional as physical as she confronts threats, revisits ruins, and reckons with the planet's past to give the narrative real weight. The pacing ensures each revelation lands, and the final act left me invested and quietly breathless.

Visually, Planet of Lana 2 is as much of a triumph as its predecessor. Hand-painted environments are alive with subtle motion and texture; animation is smooth, and machinery and characters feel lovingly crafted. Small touches, like Mui’s cute cat-like movement or shadows stretching across an icy terrain, add believability to an already breathtaking world.

The expanded breadth of biomes on offer helps liven this sequel, too. The original always felt cramped; the team at Wishfully breaks out of those borders and takes Lana's journey to sandy beaches, verdant forests, and even deep into the ocean to a wreck that picks away at the game's lore.

In a crowded genre, Planet of Lana 2 stands out. It isn’t just a clever puzzle-platformer; it’s a fully realised cinematic experience where art, animation, music, and gameplay form a cohesive whole. Icy peaks, underwater chapters, and forgotten ruins all invite exploration, while Lana and Mui’s bond keeps the journey personal.

As a sequel, it doesn't take the genre in bold new directions, and it builds upon rather than revolutionising the original Planet of Lana, but by the credits, I'd navigated puzzles, explored a fantastic world, and experienced a story that lingers, and you can't really ask for more.