Planet of Lana

I went into Planet of Lana expecting a cinematic puzzle-platformer in the same general lane as INSIDE or LIMBO. It does have some of that DNA, with side-scrolling progression, environmental puzzles, quiet storytelling, and that whole moody indie presentation.

But what I really liked about it is that it feels much softer than those games.

For anyone unfamiliar, Planet of Lana is a cinematic puzzle adventure where you play as Lana, a young girl travelling across a world disrupted by an invading robotic force. Her journey is driven by a simple goal: rescuing her abducted sister. Early on, Lana is joined by a small companion creature named Mui, and much of the game revolves around navigating the environment, solving light puzzles, and moving forward together. That companion dynamic is really at the heart of the game.

What stood out to me almost immediately was the game’s presentation, which is not surprising because I have a soft spot for atmospheric games. This is just a really beautiful game. The art direction does a lot of the heavy lifting, with Ghibli-esque painterly landscapes, wide scenic moments, and a world that feels calm and inviting even when there’s tension in it.

The music and sound design help a lot too. This is one of those games where the audio quietly shapes how you feel the entire time. Nothing is overly loud or pushy. It supports the mood of the journey really well and gives the whole game a stronger emotional pull without ever overselling it.

I think some puzzle games ask a lot from you. Sometimes that's the whole point — sitting with a problem and really working through it. But sometimes, especially after a long day, I want something engaging without something draining.

That’s where Planet of Lana really worked for me.

This is a puzzle game for unwinding. A cozy puzzle game, even. The pacing is gentle, the challenge level is manageable, and the whole thing feels more focused on atmosphere, rhythm, and emotion than on difficulty.

The story matches that approach too. It’s heartfelt, simple, and light on dialogue, which I think works in its favour. It doesn’t overexplain itself or try too hard to force emotion. Instead, it lets the visuals, music, and character moments do most of the work. I appreciated that.

So if you’re looking for a challenge, this probably isn’t the game I’d point you to. But if you want something beautiful, gentle, and easy to settle into, I think Planet of Lana is a really easy one to recommend.

Note: Planet of Lana II is out now, which makes this a pretty good time to finally play the first game.