Planet of Lana 2 - This Beautiful, Emotional and Surprisingly Ambitious Game
If you want something that will almost make you pull your hair out at times, then grab Planet of Lana 2, and I am not putting the game down in a negative way, but here is my take.
So, what’s it all about? I hear you say, well you move through these huge alien landscapes, solve environmental puzzles, and slowly uncover what happened to the world around you. That is the premise basically.
But this time, everything feels bigger. The environments are wider, the story feels heavier, and the relationship between Lana and Mui has much more personal weight behind it. There were moments where I honestly stopped moving just to take in the scenery, and then the soundtrack kicks in, the lighting changes across the environment, and suddenly you remember why games like this stand out so much from the usual action-heavy releases.
But there are also times where the flow drags a little too much, especially during longer puzzle sections where I found myself thinking “Am I missing something obvious here… or is the game just being overly cryptic?” Let’s get into it so we can break it down together.
The Frustrations in Planet of Lana 2
After spending more time with the game, it became clear that it wasn’t just me experiencing the same highs and lows. Let me start with the obstacles because after all, this is a game about puzzles didn’t you know.
Puzzle sections feel overcomplicated
The original game had a simple but clever puzzle design. Planet of Lana 2 tries to evolve that formula with larger areas, more mechanics, and layered interactions between Lana, Mui, and the environment. This can work brilliantly, but I often found myself wandering around for 10 minutes looking for one tiny interactable object hidden in the background. There were sections where I understood what the game wanted me to do, but not how it expected me to do it. This was definitely trial and error and for me it didn’t hit all the marks.
What helped me through the tougher puzzle sections
- Slowing down and observing environmental clues more carefully
- Using Mui more often instead of assuming Lana had to do everything
- Looking at lighting and movement cues, the game subtly points you in the right direction sometimes
- Take short breaks if I get stuck because, honestly… frustration makes you miss obvious solutions
The Stealth Sequences Can Break Your Flow
The stealth sections are still tense and cinematic, but there are spots where they interrupt the peaceful exploration too aggressively. You’ll go from relaxing traversal and heartfelt storytelling straight into “Okay wait… where did that robot even come from?”
Some enemy patrols also felt slightly unpredictable, especially in darker environments where visibility wasn’t always clear. I had a few situations where I thought I was completely hidden, only to suddenly trigger a chase sequence.
Now, don’t get me wrong, the tension is part of what makes Planet of Lana work, but occasionally the stealth mechanics felt stricter than the game’s otherwise calm progression.
What helped during stealth encounters
- Watching enemy movement patterns before rushing forward, keep a close eye to learn the patterns
- Using distractions more patiently instead of immediately moving, if you have played The Last of Us, you will know what I mean here.
- Staying low even when areas looked safe
- Accept that some sequences are designed around timing rather than improvisation, take these slow and one at a time
The Moving Story Hits Hard…But the pacing can feel uneven
One thing Planet of Lana 2 gets right is memorable storytelling. Quiet moments between Lana and Mui often say more than pages of dialogue ever could. The slower pace gives these scenes room to breathe, although personally, some stretches in the middle of the game linger a little longer than they need to.
I loved the slower speed from time to time, but there were sections where I just wanted the story to move forward a bit faster. Especially during some of the longer traversal sequences in the middle chapters, where you’re climbing, solving simple environmental sequences, and walking through large open areas with little happening, the balance between gameplay and cinematic storytelling occasionally slows the momentum too much.
What will help you enjoy the slower sections more
- Treating exploration as part of the storytelling.
- Playing in shorter sessions instead of marathon playthroughs.
- Wearing headphones because the soundtrack genuinely elevates every quiet moment.
- Letting the game breathe instead of rushing from one objective to the next.
Traversal Feels Much Better… But Not Always Precise
Movement in Planet of Lana 2 definitely feels more refined compared to the original game, especially when climbing, swinging across gaps, or navigating larger environments. However, transitions from climbing into jumps can still feel slightly awkward at times, and there were a few moments where grabbing a ledge or interacting with a climbable surface didn’t trigger exactly when I expected. I noticed this most during longer platforming sequences where a missed jump meant replaying a short section. I would have liked it to just take me back to the last platform, but I think I am being a little picky there.
What helped with traversal frustrations
- Slowing down near ledges instead of sprinting constantly.
- Reposition carefully before making jumps; this will help prevent redoing sections.
- Watching for subtle camera shifts that highlight the correct path.
- Accept that some platforming sections are designed to be cinematic as much as mechanical.
The World Design Is Absolutely Stunning
This deserves its own section because wow… the art direction is honestly ridiculous at times. Every area feels handcrafted. You have these amazing glowing forests and crystal-filled caves then these abandoned mechanical ruins reclaimed by nature. That sense of discovering an unfamiliar world reminded me of the exploration and environmental storytelling that makes games like Subnautica so compelling.
Planet of Lana 2 constantly throws visually breath taking moments at you. It genuinely feels like playing through an animated sci-fi film.
Unlike a lot of cinematic indie games, the environments actually feel meaningful to explore rather than just pretty backgrounds. You’ll spot ancient machinery slowly being overtaken by plants, remnants of past civilisations hidden off the main path, and wildlife that makes the world feel alive. There’s environmental storytelling everywhere if you slow down enough to notice it.
Performance and Technical Issues
For the most part, performance feels stable, but I did notice occasional frame drops during larger cinematic transitions or more effects-heavy areas. Nothing ruined the experience, but in a game that relies heavily on immersion and atmosphere, technical hiccups stand out more than usual. I noticed it most when entering larger environments or during some of the more visually intense chase sequences. Hopefully, future patches will smooth some of this out further.
What To Try If You Experience Performance Issues
- Lower shadow and effects settings if you’re playing on PC.
- Make sure your graphics drivers are up to date before playing.
- Close unnecessary background applications to free up system resources.
- Install the game on an SSD to reduce loading and streaming hiccups.
- Restart the game after longer sessions if performance begins to dip.
The Learning Curve Is More About Patience Than Difficulty
Planet of Lana 2 isn’t a hard game in the traditional sense. It’s more about observation, balance, and patience. Many of the puzzles are built around watching enemy patrols, timing Mui’s actions, or noticing subtle clues in the environment rather than reacting quickly. Once I stopped trying to rush through puzzles and started appreciating the slower rhythm of the game, everything clicked much better.
The game rewards careful attention far more than fast reactions. Taking a moment to study the area before moving often leads to a much smoother solution and that’s part of its charm. Not every game needs constant explosions and combat. Sometimes exploring an alien world and solving puzzles alongside your tiny (cute) companion is more than enough. If you enjoy games that put exploration and survival ahead of constant combat, check out our guide to the best survival games in 2026
What Planet of Lana 2 Gets Right
Every new area feels worth exploring. Whether you’re crossing ancient ruins or sneaking through hostile territory, the world constantly rewards curiosity with small environmental details that make it feel alive.
The soundtrack is beautiful, especially during slower exploration sections where the music subtly builds tension or softens into something more reflective.
The visual storytelling is incredibly strong, with abandoned settlements, overgrown machinery, and scattered remnants of past encounters all hinting at a larger history without needing exposition.
The powerful connection between Lana and Mui feels even stronger this time around, especially in moments where Mui helps solve environmental puzzles or reacts to danger before you even notice it yourself.
That relationship is a big part of what makes the game’s puzzle design work, as Lana and Mui effectively have to work together to overcome obstacles.
When the puzzles, exploration, music, and storytelling all align together, Planet of Lana 2 becomes genuinely unforgettable. There are a few games that manage to feel this calm, bittersweet , and cinematic at the same time. That’s what kept me playing.
So, how melty is it?
Planet of Lana 2 builds beautifully on the foundation of the first game. It’s bigger, more memorable, and visually breathtaking throughout most of the experience, from sweeping alien landscapes to quieter moments where you’re simply moving through ruins alongside Mui in silence.
It’s not perfect, as I’ve explained throughout my playthrough. Some puzzles overstay their welcome, stealth sections involving patrolling machines can occasionally frustrate, and the structure won’t work for everyone.
But when the game slows down and fully embraces its mood whether that’s crossing vast glowing environments, hiding in the shadows while enemies sweep the area, or solving puzzles with Mui in quiet sync it creates moments that genuinely stick with you long after you stop playing.
If you want to learn more about the game before you pick it up, head over to the official planet of Luna II website.
