When Planet of Lana was released in 2023, it quietly became one of the most memorable cinematic puzzle adventures of that year. Combining hand-painted visuals, thoughtful puzzles, and a wordless narrative about companionship and survival, the game drew comparisons to classics like Inside and Another World while establishing its own identity.
Three years later, Planet of Lana II: Children of the Leaf expands that story in meaningful ways. Developed once again by Wishfully and published by Thunderful, the sequel launched on 5 March 2026, arriving simultaneously across multiple platforms and as a day-one release on Xbox Game Pass.
Instead of reinventing the original formula, Children of the Leaf builds on it with a slightly older protagonist, expanded movement abilities, deeper environmental storytelling, and a broader view of the mysterious world Lana calls home.
The result is a sequel that feels familiar but more confident, offering a richer adventure while maintaining the quiet emotional core that made the first game so special.
A World in Transition
The original Planet of Lana mainly focused on the aftermath of a mechanical invasion that disturbed the peaceful balance of Lana’s home planet. Children of the Leaf shifts its perspective slightly, exploring what happens after that initial crisis begins to settle.
Technology has started to spread across the planet, and different tribes have adopted it in very different ways. Some see it as a tool for rebuilding and progress, while others consider it a dangerous force that could once again disrupt the natural world.
This growing divide sets the scene for Lana and Mui’s new journey.
When certain factions push technological power too far, the fragile balance of the planet begins to fall apart. What begins as a localised conflict gradually turns into a deeper mystery linked to the planet’s ancient past—and to Mui’s origins.
The story unfolds without spoken dialogue, continuing the series’ unique storytelling style. Characters communicate through gestures, alien language, and expressive animation, leaving players to interpret the meaning behind each encounter.
This minimalist approach works exceptionally well. The story is never overly explained, yet the emotional moments come across with surprising clarity.
Lana’s Growth
One of the most noticeable changes in the sequel is Lana herself.
In Children of the Leaf, she is somewhat older and clearly more capable. While still vulnerable in dangerous situations, she now moves with greater confidence and agility.
New traversal abilities greatly broaden how players interact with the environment. Lana can now perform wall jumps, smooth climbing sequences, and momentum-based platforming, enabling more dynamic movement across the game’s environments.
These updates help address one of the original game’s limitations. The first Planet of Lana relied heavily on slower pacing, which occasionally made traversal feel restrictive.
The sequel’s expanded mobility introduces a welcome sense of freedom without transforming the game into a fast-paced action platformer.
Movement remains deliberate and thoughtful, but Lana now feels more capable of navigating the increasingly complex landscapes she encounters.
The Bond with Mui
At the heart of Planet of Lana II is the bond between Lana and her companion Mui.
The small, mysterious creature continues to act as both emotional anchor and gameplay partner throughout the adventure.
Players can command Mui to interact with the environment, solve puzzles, and distract enemies. In Children of the Leaf, Mui gains several new abilities that broaden the range of puzzles.
Some puzzles require Mui to manipulate distant objects, activate mechanisms, or guide environmental creatures that Lana cannot reach herself.
The game often emphasises cooperation between the two characters. Many obstacles need precise coordination between Lana’s physical actions and Mui’s abilities.
This dynamic strengthens the emotional connection between them. The gameplay itself mirrors their partnership, making sure neither character ever feels secondary to the other.
Thoughtful Puzzle Design
Planet of Lana II continues the series’ approach of offering accessible yet satisfying puzzles.
Instead of introducing complex logic challenges, the puzzles emphasise observation, timing, and environmental awareness.
Most obstacles involve engaging with natural elements, machinery, or wildlife in ways that feel naturally integrated into the world.
For instance, players might need to guide creatures through the environment to activate pathways or utilise mechanical remnants from ancient civilisations to open new routes.
The puzzles seldom become overly difficult but stay engaging by consistently introducing new mechanics.
Each region of the game presents subtle variations of previous ideas, ensuring that puzzles develop alongside the story.
Importantly, the game avoids overreliance on tutorials. Instead, players learn through experimentation and visual cues, maintaining immersion in the world.
A Hand-Painted Journey
Visually, Children of the Leaf maintains the hand-painted art style that defined the original game.
Every environment feels like a living illustration, filled with lush forests, frozen mountain ranges, deep ocean caverns, and ancient ruins reclaimed by nature.
The sequel greatly expands the scale of these environments. While the original game mainly focused on forests and mechanical ruins, Children of the Leaf explores a much wider variety of biomes.
These landscapes are not just decorative. Each region reflects a broader theme of a world caught between nature and technological progress.
Some areas show tribes living in harmony with newly discovered machines, while others depict ecosystems disrupted by reckless experimentation.
The visual storytelling is subtle but powerful, reinforcing the game’s themes without the need for dialogue.
Music and Atmosphere
The emotional impact of the journey is largely conveyed through the game’s orchestral soundtrack.
Gentle piano melodies accompany quieter exploration moments, while expansive orchestral arrangements build tension in more dramatic scenes.
The music often replaces dialogue, guiding the player’s emotional response to key events.
Sound design also plays a crucial role. Environmental noises—wind sweeping across mountain cliffs, distant machinery, rustling forests—create an immersive atmosphere that makes the world feel alive.
Together, the visuals and music form one of the game’s greatest strengths.
A Carefully Paced Adventure
Children of the Leaf offers a fairly concise experience, typically lasting between six and eight hours.
The pacing is deliberately designed to avoid unnecessary filler.
Each chapter introduces new environments, gameplay mechanics, and story developments at a steady pace. The game seldom spends too long in one area before moving on to something new.
This controlled pacing ensures that the journey feels purposeful from beginning to end.
While some players might wish for a longer adventure, the succinct structure helps maintain the emotional impact of the story.
Pros & Cons
Pros
- Beautiful hand-painted world with diverse environments
- Strong emotional storytelling without dialogue
- Expanded movement abilities improve gameplay flow
- Thoughtful puzzles that integrate naturally into the environment
- Excellent orchestral soundtrack and atmosphere
Cons
- Relatively short adventure
- Puzzle difficulty remains fairly gentle
- Limited replay value once the story is completed
- Some platforming sections feel slightly scripted
Final Verdict
Planet of Lana II: Children of the Leaf is a thoughtful sequel to one of the most quietly memorable puzzle adventures of recent years.
Rather than radically reinventing the formula, Wishfully has refined and expanded upon the elements that made the original game so compelling. Lana’s enhanced mobility, Mui’s new abilities, and the broader world-building give the sequel a stronger sense of scale while preserving the intimate emotional core of the story.
The result is an experience that feels both familiar and more enriching than its predecessor.
Children of the Leaf may not revolutionise the puzzle-platformer genre, but it offers a beautifully crafted journey filled with atmosphere, emotion, and meaningful environmental storytelling.
For fans of cinematic adventures that prioritise mood and companionship over action, it stands as one of the most memorable narrative-driven releases of the year.
