If Planet of Lana represented the broad strokes of a painting, then its sequel is where developer Wishfully has painstakingly added the little details. In a first hands-on demo at Gamescom 2025, the first impression is that this is a sequel in the truest sense.
This is still a thoroughly modern adventure platformer; it still stars an intrepid human girl and her supernatural alien cat-thing, Mui as a controllable duo; and it still regularly wows with its shifting backdrops of otherworldly natural beauty and the harsh, off-world machinery plaguing it. But as I play through several disparate sections, it’s clear that there’s a real eye for new game design humming under the surface.
Everything I remember about the first game – particularly how its increasingly fiendish puzzles would ask me to use Lana and Mui both together and apart – is in place. I’m immediately familiar with how the stalking alien robots can spot and hunt me down (and the thankfully generous checkpointing after instant deaths), and how I can use the world around me to my advantage – using Mui to cut ropes Lana can’t reach, or using Lana to sneak behind enemies to open new paths for Mui.
But as I progress, I see more and more new mechanics emerge, enriching the original game’s make-up. In the first game, Lana and Mui were struggling to understand the machine invaders around them – but now they can use their knowledge to their advantage. Mui can now extend their previous powers of hypnosis as a kind of hack, short-circuiting machinery around them, while Lana can reprogram and control certain elements of the environment – one section has me navigating a giant crate by way of magnets around a room to find a way out.
In the natural world, there are new ways to get around, too. Lana herself seems to have grown as an explorer, now able to run faster, and slide into tight spaces. Puzzles feel as though they take place across larger spaces, often asking you to split your two heroes up for longer in order to get past obstacles – in one section I need to get Mui to hypnotize a bloated fly creature, which can collect water and deposit it on nearby plants to grow bamboo like stalks. In a wonderful collision of design and physics, I travel to an out-of-the-way exit by swaying and bending each one in turn as Mui scampers behind.
Like the first game, Planet of Lana II has very little in the way of a traditional UI, and its characters speak only in an alien language, meaning storytelling always comes from the world around you and how you interact with it. Even in this short glimpse of the sequel, it feels as though that story is aiming to go far deeper – where the first game started as an escape, became a rescue mission, and ended as a sci-fi mystery, the second feels more in-depth.
We see ruined installations, get kidnapped by a hostile human faction (with a very satisfying jailbreak sequence), and begin to realise that there’s far more to Mui than their cute exterior would suggest.
There’s a sense that Wishfully are gleefully taking the chance to do the things they simply didn’t have the time to do the first time around – more puzzles, more abilities, more mysteries – while clinging to the core of what made the first game so beloved. I’m ready to see more of this strange, beautiful world.
Planet of Lana II
Thunderful Publishing AB
Embark on an unforgettable cinematic puzzle journey with Lana and her loyal companion Mui. Whether you’re a returning hero or a new adventurer, step into a world where a new, ancient mystery emerges from Novo’s hidden depths. But as they scour these depths, a new threat will put their unbreakable bond to the ultimate test, guiding Lana to confront her destiny amidst encroaching shadows.
Planet of Lana II is a cinematic puzzle adventure framed by an epic sci-fi saga that stretches across centuries and galaxies.
Key Features:
Unique, Evolved Companion Gameplay: Experience Lana and Mui’s profound, evolving bond. Guide Mui with enhanced precision for deep exploration and collaborative puzzle-solving.
Solve Diverse & Clever Puzzles: Tackle a wider array of physics-based puzzles, including hypnotizing spectacular creatures and controlling new hybrid robots for unique solutions.
Master Stealth & Wit: Carefully navigate dangerous situations using refined stealth mechanics and tactical wit to outsmart foes.
Survive Challenging Action Sequences: Use your reflexes and master Lana’s new agility with wall jumps, run-slides, and faster movement to survive thrilling, dynamic action sequences.
Discover an Epic & Deeper Story: Immerse in a longer, more profound sci-fi saga. Confront Lana’s own demons and unveil the planet’s darkest secrets across stunning, diverse worlds, including new underwater chapters.
Return of an Acclaimed Composer: Experience Takeshi Furukawa’s critically acclaimed score, from the original Planet of Lana. His mesmerizing compositions seamlessly elevate every emotional beat and cinematic moment.
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