Reviewed on PC

The year 2023 was filled to the brim with bangers, from Baldur’s Gate 3 to The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom to Marvel’s Spider-Man 2. Amongst these heavy hitters was Planet of Lana, a hidden indie gem that deserved just as much spotlight as the others. I was fortunate to experience its beauty, wondering if there would ever be a sequel. To my amazement, that’s exactly what happened in 2026.

With any continuation, you’re always going to ask the same old question: Will it be as good as the first? I’m happy to say, with one hundred percent certainty, that the answer is yes. And it may, in fact, be even better than the one that started it all. Planet of Lana 2: Children of the Leaf is exactly how sequels should be, one that keeps the same heart and feel but evolves into something so much more.

The Return of Lana and Mui

While the first entry was defined by a mechanized invasion, the second bridges the gap between man, in this case a little girl, and machine. Lana, the young hero who made all this happen, now lives peacefully on her home planet, where humans and robots have built a cohesive system for survival. The feline-like companion, Mui, continues to be by her side, and you’ll be able to pet it almost anytime you want, which makes it a 10 out of 10 in my book.

Lana possesses far more confidence after overcoming such hardships and turmoil. She shows no fear in exploring the unknown and seeks more answers to understand humanity’s past. Like the first game, you’ll have to interpret Planet of Lana’s lore in your own way, as the spoken language is unique to this world. I thoroughly enjoy analyzing each character’s body language and tone, making my own version of the events transpiring before me.

Right from the start, Planet of Lana 2 wastes no time getting into the action. You dive straight into platforming, without even so much as a tutorial to help you. As someone who’s played the original, it was a cakewalk once I got my bearings, but for those who didn’t, you might want to do yourself a favor and play it first. You’ll familiarize yourself with Mui’s abilities and get a taste of the original’s magnificence.

Mui has a wide range of talents, including crawling into tight spaces, controlling robots, and becoming a puppet master to various creatures. You’ll have these powers at your disposal by using the right stick to control Mui while controlling Lana with the left. It’s like you’re in charge of two characters at once, which can be challenging when one of them is in danger. Despite the game’s less combat-heavy nature, there’s still the threat of hostile robots and a mysterious tribe. This requires some strategizing in the placement of the two, really putting your skills to the test.

Puzzles Don’t Always Have to Be So Hard

Mui and Lana’s explorative expertise come into play through the game’s many puzzles. What I like about the Planet of Lana series is how the puzzles aren’t overly complicated. Although I do enjoy a good challenge, certain games tend to rely on puzzles so complex that you hardly know where to start. Children of the Leaf never made me feel that way. It encourages a sense of intuition and patience. Through a bit of trial and error, you can get there eventually. I came out thinking I was the smartest person in the world every time I solved one, even if the next one made me think otherwise.

There were still challenges that did peeve me, particularly the ones where you guide a line of fire to burn a specific spot. Your movements are limited with this ability, and obstacles often make it frustrating to line up the shot. It added difficulty, but a little extra challenge never hurts.

Water Levels That Are Actually Good

The one aspect of the game I thought would be a thorn in my side was the water levels. Thankfully, the swimming mechanics are as smooth as walking, so there’s not much of a struggle in the great abyss. I was surprised to see underwater exploration take up a good chunk of the game, separating it from its predecessor. It’s not overwhelming, but certainly more prominent than I expected.

While the ocean can be terrifying to explore, the sights are mesmerizing to behold. The vibrant coral mixed with the lively critters makes it feel alive. Above the surface is even more breathtaking, whether it be the lush greenery of the forest or the quiet glow of a moonlit night. The scenery and symphonic soundtrack make it feel cozy and deeply atmospheric. There were several moments serene enough to make me want to sleep. Hearing its graceful musical theme makes me hope that someday it will be as recognized as other beloved game soundtracks.

However, it’s not all sunshine and peace, especially when the music takes a dramatic turn upon an enemy’s arrival. Sometimes, it’s a peaceful stroll. Other times, you’re running for your life. Think of it as half cozy game and half thriller. Similar to the first Planet of Lana, the sequel still knows how to create tension when it needs to, but it feels less isolating this time. Since Lana saved her people in the first entry, you now get the chance to meet others and watch the world open up. With more characters comes more storytelling to deepen its lore.

The deep dive into lore is my favorite aspect of the sequel. I’m a sucker for a good worldbuilder, and Children of the Leaf delivers exactly that. Questions I had in the first game were answered here. Not all, of course, but enough to make me even more invested in the story’s mysteries. Dare I say it deserves to become a trilogy, and that could very well be true based on how this one ties things up.

By the time the credits rolled, I already felt like playing the first one again, just because I didn’t want to get off the Planet of Lana train. It reminded me that smaller adventures can still carry the biggest emotions.

Planet of Lana is Here to Stay

I can proudly say I am a Planet of Lana fan. I love this series and hope it gets all the love it deserves. There needs to be more indie games like this, ones that don’t stress you out with puzzles and are a marvel to look at. I know it may be hard to get the spotlight, given that it’s amongst another slew of heavy hitters like Pokémon Pokopia and Slay the Spire 2. But if you’re the type of player who wants a short and sweet game, around six to eight hours to be exact, Planet of Lana 2: Children of the Leaf is a nearly perfect hit.

Planet of Lana 2 is proof that quiet adventures leave the loudest impact, and this sequel’s heart and imagination make it unforgettable.