REVIEW | Planet of Lana II: Children of the Leaf

The first Planet of Lana released back in 2023 and was a cinematic escape that felt like a Studio Ghibli movie come to life. It was small, it was quiet, and it was beautiful.

This time around, the lore goes way deeper. We aren’t just running away from scary machines anymore, we’re finally starting to understand why they’re here. The story picks up a few years later with an older, tougher Lana. The stakes are personal now. Lana’s sister has fallen ill from a strange “mechanical sickness”, and the only cure lies hidden within the secrets of the Dijinghala tribe.

This is where the title comes in. The ‘Children of the Leaf’ aren’t just a group of people, they are a connection to an ancient energy that links the humans, the plants, and creatures like our favourite little fluff ball, Mui, back to the planet’s original roots. We’re finally getting answers about Mui’s ancestors and the ‘Old World’ technology that’s been rusting in the background. It turns this from a simple survival story into a massive journey to save Lana’s family and uncover the soul of the planet itself

Things I liked!

• The Graphics Look Like a Beautiful Painting – The art in this sequel is much more than just a pretty background because it feels like you are walking through a living painting. You will find yourself stopping your character constantly just to admire the way the light hits the new snowy mountains or how the glowing plants look in the deep underwater caves, which makes the world feel like it has a real soul. It is not just about the bright colours but about how massive everything looks because the camera pulls back to show you how tiny Lana is compared to the huge rusted ruins of the old world.

• Lana and Mui Work Much Better Together – The relationship between these two characters has been upgraded to feel like a true partnership where you actually care about what happens to them, as if they were real friends. Mui has these new powers to control the planet’s energy, which turns the puzzles into a fun conversation between two best friends instead of just a chore for the player to solve alone. The animations are so detailed and warm that you can feel their bond every time they hug after a scary chase or when Mui shivers in the cold, because it builds a lot of emotion that most games cannot reach with a million lines of talking.

• The Music and Sound Effects are Incredible – The music in this game is the actual heartbeat of the experience because it knows exactly how to make you feel the tension in your chest. You get this amazing contrast between the soft, natural sounds of the forest and the cold, metallic screeches of the machines, which tells a story better than any dialogue ever could. It is a smart system, so when you are sneaking, the music is a quiet whisper, but the second you escape into a beautiful new area, the orchestra gets loud in a way that genuinely gives you goosebumps.

• Finding Secrets Hidden Everywhere in the World – The hidden history of the tribe and the secrets of the sickness are tucked away everywhere in the ruins and the rusted technology buried in the sand. The game trusts you to be smart enough to piece together the mystery of the old world at your own pace without ever needing a boring cutscene to explain things to you. This makes the world feel mysterious and ancient, like you are a real explorer uncovering a forgotten history, which adds so much weight to Lana’s journey to save her sister.

• Lana is Faster and Much Easier to Control – The new mobility feels like it finally gives Lana the speed she needs to survive in such a dangerous world. It creates a satisfying feeling of flow that turns escaping from a deadly drone into a smooth dance, especially when you combine your own speed with Mui’s powers to clear a path in one satisfying motion. It makes the platforming feel much more modern compared to the first game, which helps keep the energy high during the most intense parts of the story.

Mixed & disliked!

• Stealth Puzzles Can be Frustrating – The stealth parts of the game can feel a bit too strict because the game often forces you to do things in one exact way. If a robot sees even the tip of your boot, it is an instant game over, which can be exhausting when you just want to try a different way to escape a guard. I would have loved to see a bit more freedom in how you handle enemies, rather than being forced to memorise a specific pattern, because it can make the game feel more like a memory test than a creative adventure.

How long did I play the review before publishing? about 7 hours
How long to beat the story? 5 hours
How many Achievements did I earn before publishing? 17/25
How long to complete | about 6 hours if you follow a guide
You’ll love this game if you like these | Inside , Brothers: A Tale of Two Sons , Gris

CONCLUSION

Score: 85/100 – At the end of the day, Planet of Lana 2: Children of the Leaf earns its 85 out of 100 score by proving 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.

The bond between Lana and Mui feels genuinely earned, and while the jumping can still feel a bit slippery at times, it’s a tiny price to pay for a world that feels this alive. With the expanded lore finally answering the big questions about Novo’s ancient past, it stands as a rare and polished gem that respects your time and treats every frame like a piece of art, which makes it an absolute must play!

Check out chochklah’s video review: