Game Pass Game of the Week: Planet of Lana II

I loved the first Planet of Lana, so going into the sequel I honestly had one big concern: would it lose the quiet magic that made the original feel so special? Thankfully, after spending time with Planet of Lana II, that fear disappeared almost immediately.

This still feels like Planet of Lana.

That same cinematic side-scrolling adventure design is here, along with the peaceful-but-melancholic atmosphere that made the first game stick with me long after the credits rolled. The art direction is still gorgeous, the music still carries emotional weight without overpowering the experience, and the world once again feels alive in a way that few games in this genre really capture.

What surprised me most though is how naturally the sequel evolves the gameplay.

The companion mechanics feel smarter and more involved this time around, and the puzzles do a much better job of building on your abilities without slowing the pacing down. There are more systems at play now, but it never feels like the game is trying to become something completely different. Instead, it feels like the developers understood exactly what players connected with in the first game and simply expanded on it with more confidence.

That balance is hard to pull off.

A lot of sequels either play things too safe or overcomplicate what originally worked. Planet of Lana II somehow threads the needle between both approaches. It adds meaningful gameplay improvements while still maintaining the calm, emotional identity that made the first game memorable in the first place.

The visual storytelling continues to be one of the biggest strengths too. There are moments where the game barely says anything directly, but the environments, animation, and music communicate everything you need to feel. It has that rare ability to slow you down without becoming boring, and that’s part of why these games stand out so much in today’s constant rush toward bigger and louder experiences.

It also feels perfect for Game Pass.

This is exactly the kind of game people discover on the service and end up remembering for years. Not because it was the biggest release of the month of April, but because it delivers something more personal and artistic in between all the giant AAA games fighting for attention.

If you loved the first Planet of Lana, the sequel absolutely feels worth your time. And if you somehow missed the original, this series continues to be one of the easiest recommendations on Game Pass for players looking for a beautiful, thoughtful adventure with heart.

Sometimes the smaller experiences are the ones that stick with you the longest.