I went into ‘Planet of Lana II: Children of the Leaf' knowing very little about its predecessor. That turned out not to matter. Within the first twenty minutes, this game had me entirely in its grip. Wishfully's sequel is a concise, beautifully crafted puzzle-platformer that moved me without uttering a single word of recognisable dialogue. It's cosy and to be enjoyed slowly and thoughtfully.
A Story Told Without Words
The story picks up two years after the events of the first game. Lana and her older sister, Anua, are exploring when Anua is struck by a toxic cloud released from a strange rock. This kicks off Lana's quest, alongside her cat-like companion, Mui, to find three rare ingredients so that Rakuen, a village elder, can cure her. Simple enough, but it doesn't stay that way.
What starts as a personal rescue mission slowly opens into something far bigger. Lana comes to understand that the world around her is fractured, and that different tribes hold very different views on how to live alongside machines and technology. Some seek harmony. Others have been consumed by greed and progress at any cost.
The game doesn't feature any conventional dialogue. Conversation happens in a fully invented tongue, with no subtitles. I'll admit, I found this hard to trust at first. If the story is supposed to carry the game, could it really do that without words I could understand?
It absolutely can. The narrative is revealed through expression, timing, and context. The story unfolds beautifully, and with interesting turns such as flashback sequences that dip into Mui's mysterious past and hint at the ancient origins of the rift between humans and machines.
A World Worth Getting Lost In
The art direction is hand-painted, and it shows. As I was playing, I moved through lush forests where lily pads drift on shimmering streams, then into cold metallic corridors full of robots, then deep underwater as beams of light cut down through the surface above. Every environment felt considered.
The Studio Ghibli influence is unmistakeable. There's a Sacred Deer that looks lifted directly from ‘Princess Mononoke'. The little soot-like creatures you encounter wouldn't feel out of place in ‘Spirited Away'. I played on PC with a controller, which let me sit back and take it all in, and the game occasionally nudged you to do exactly that, which I appreciated.
Smart Puzzles, Satisfying Pacing
The puzzle design is welcoming without being shallow. New mechanics are introduced steadily, like directing Mui to flick a switch, possessing a fish or a fly to reach somewhere Lana can't. The mechanics are revealed slowly, and when you pay attention and adapt to new environments, the satisfaction of working it out feels earned.
What I noticed most was the pacing. Long stretches of calm and contemplation with ever-more complex puzzles, then suddenly a chase sequence arrives and speed is tested in place of logic. Those moments are rare, but when they hit, I felt them. They keep the game engaging, and provide a nice contrast to the quieter stretches in the game.
Lana and Mui
So much of why this works comes down to the two of them. Using Lana and Mui independently to solve puzzles — each with their own abilities — creates a cooperative feel as a solo player. Mui is expressive and full of attitude, with sound effects so good I found myself giggling along.
The voice performances carry real weight. Even without a recognisable word, I understood fear, warmth, urgency, and humour, adding richness to the story and the game as a whole.
Final Verdict
‘Planet of Lana II' runs around six to eight hours. It took me a little longer, and I wasn't rushing. The puzzles are clever without being cruel. The story rewards attention. I came in knowing nothing about the first game and left thoroughly invested.
If you've never played a puzzle-platformer before, this might be a good place to start. I would recommend this for younger audiences as it's a very approachable game, with a nice message and a real appreciation for hand-made art. It feels complete, but I'd imagine fans will be hoping for a third instalment.
Developer: Wishfully Publisher: Thunderful Publishing Genre: Puzzle-platformer, Adventure Platforms: Nintendo Switch, Nintendo Switch 2, PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X|S, PC Played on: PC with controller Release date: 5th March 2026 Find out more about ‘Planet of Lana II: Children of the Leaf' on Steam
