Planet of Lana 2 Hands-On — Twice the Game, Stranger Creatures, and Puzzles That Level Up the Series
Wishfully Studios showed Planet of Lana 2: Children of the Leaf in a 45-minute hands-on demo at Gamescom, and the sequel looks *bigger* in scope, *richer* in puzzles, and *deeper* in story than the 2023 original.
- Hands-on length and setting: 45-minute demo at Gamescom with four distinct gameplay segments.
- Story and scope: expanded lore, more NPCs, and a separate narrative from the first game.
- Gameplay: new creature-control mechanics, more complex puzzles, and varied traversal (snow, underwater, industrial, forest).
- Length and platforms: roughly double the first game’s runtime; coming to multiple consoles and PC in 2026.
Hands-on overview
During the demo I played four segments: a snowy mountain, a colorful underwater realm, an industrial building, and a lush forest. Each area not only looks different, but also introduces distinct mechanics. For example, the underwater section requires managing oxygen and using creature interactions, while the industrial section feels more like an escape-room sequence with order-based puzzles and moving magnetic cubes.
Story and characters
The sequel sends Lana and her companion Mui on a new journey to investigate an ancient mystery. Creative director Adam Stjärnljus said: “You will get to explore much more of the lore and the history of the planets. You’ll learn why everything is the way it is.”
In addition, Stjärnljus explained: “There are more NPCs, including some friends that you come across along the way, and also new villages.” He also clarified how the game connects to the first title: “Of course, they are tied together,” and “but as the narrative is separate from the first game. It’s not necessary to play Planet of Lana .”
New and expanded gameplay
The demo showed several new mechanics that expand collaboration between Lana and Mui. Importantly, Mui still cannot swim, so the game introduces companion-based solutions in aquatic areas, and new abilities for controlling other creatures.
Underwater mechanics
To traverse underwater caverns, Lana must find air bubbles and manage oxygen. Meanwhile, Mui cannot swim and must be carried or transported. In one example, a black bubble-like creature acted as a carrier for Mui. Also, the game allows Lana and Mui to hypnotize and take control of other black-and-white creatures, which was used to solve movement and combat obstacles underwater by taking control of a small fish and dropping a cloud of ink to distract a dangerous fish.
Industrial and puzzle rooms
The industrial section played like an escape-room. First, Lana wakes up in a prison and must activate a sequence of colorful buttons to free Mui. Then Mui uses vents to move through areas while Lana manipulates magnetic cubes to reach new rooms. As noted during the demo, Mui’s range from Lana has been improved compared to the original game.
Forest and creature tools
In the forest, Lana gains access to a floating blob creature that can carry water. By watering bamboo shoots, tall poles grow and allow Lana to climb higher. These new controllable creatures and puzzle tools broaden how puzzles are solved across areas.
Puzzle complexity and length
According to Stjärnljus: “The puzzles are more complex than those in the first Planet of Lana,” and he added that “The collaboration between Lana and Mui has been expanded upon, which should make it more fun and varied, with new jamming and hacking abilities, and the fact that you can take over creatures.”
On overall size, Stjärnljus confirmed: “The game is around double the length of the first Planet of Lana. The narrative, the gameplay, the puzzles — everything is expanded upon.” For reference, the first Planet of Lana was described as a five-hour-long game, so the sequel is expected to be significantly longer.
Platforms and release window
Planet of Lana 2: Children of the Leaf is planned for PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Windows PC, Xbox One, Xbox Series X, and Nintendo Switch. The game is scheduled to release in 2026.
