Planet of Lana II: Children of the Leaf has received broadly favorable reviews, with critics most often praising its striking art, atmospheric soundtrack, emotional story and puzzle-platforming. The PC version had a 79 Metascore, rated “Generally Favorable,” in Metacritic’s 2026 snapshot; that score is specific to PC and can change as reviews are added.
What is the critic consensus on Planet of Lana II?
Reviews broadly welcome the sequel as a visually rich, atmospheric return to Lana’s world. Critics also highlight its story and puzzles, with some describing it as a successful expansion of the first game’s ideas. The overall picture is positive, but individual reviewers differ on how well the controls, new mechanics and pacing work.
Metacritic’s PC critic page showed a score of 79, labelled “Generally Favorable,” in its 2026 snapshot. This is an aggregator score for PC, not a rating shared across every platform; scores can change as coverage is added. See Metacritic’s PC critic reviews.
What do critics praise?
- Visuals and atmosphere: PC and Switch 2 review excerpts single out the game’s art and its ability to create a distinctive mood.
- Music: Reviewers praise the soundtrack as an important part of the experience.
- Story: The emotional narrative is a recurring strength in the sampled PC coverage.
- Puzzles and partnership: Critics note the puzzle-platforming, including the cooperation between Lana and Mui in Switch 2 coverage.
- A sequel that builds on the original: Some PC reviewers consider the game an effective expansion of the first title’s world and ideas.
Read the Switch 2 critic reviews for platform-specific perspectives on the art, puzzles and Lana-and-Mui teamwork.
#1 Best Overall
What reservations appear in the reviews?
The criticisms are not universal consensus; they vary by reviewer and platform. In sampled PC coverage, some reviewers point to cinematic interruptions, controls that can feel sluggish, uneven execution of new gameplay ideas and moments when the way forward is difficult to read. Switch 2 excerpts raise different concerns, including short length, light challenge, the need to adjust to the inputs and transitions between settings.
These reservations matter most if you want demanding puzzles, consistently snappy controls or a longer adventure. The available review excerpts do not establish that every player will encounter the same issues.
Rank #2
- Strategy Tabletop Board Game: Planet Is An Environmental Drafting Board Game Featuring Unique 3D Planet Cores, For Science And Nature Enthusiasts. This Best-Selling Board Game Has An Amazing Table Presence With Magnetic Globes And High-Quality Components.
- Family Or Adult Strategy Game: This 2 To 4 Players Nature Inspired Game Can Be Enjoyed By Parents Playing With Their Children As Well As Adults. Best Recommended For Ages 8 & Up.
- How To Play: Planet Uses A Drafting And Tile Placement Mechanism With Progressive Turn Order. A World Is Taking Shape In The Palm Of Your Hands. Take On The Role Of Super Beings And Compete To Create Perfect Worlds With The Ideal Conditions For Wildlife To Flourish. Each Player'S Board Is A 12-Sided 3-Dimensional Planet Core. Throughout 12 Turns, Select Landscape Tiles Representing Oceans, Deserts, Mountains Or Frozen Lands, And Arrange Them On Your Planet To Create The Best Ecosystem. Win Animal Cards While Fulfilling Your Own Natural Habitat Objectives And Create The Most Populated Planet In
- Planet Was One Of Blue Orange’S Top Selling Board Games When It Was Released At Gen Con This Strategic But Easy To Play Game Is Great For Families Enjoying Other Popular Blue Orange Classic Award Winning Board Games Like Kingdomino, Photosynthesis, New York 1901.
Does the platform change the review picture?
Yes. The 79 Metascore is for PC, while Switch 2 reviews offer their own platform-specific assessments. The excerpts support comparing what critics say about each version, but they do not establish a controlled technical-performance comparison across PC, Switch 2, PS5 and Xbox. Don’t treat the PC score as a score for every platform.
| Platform or coverage | What the available review evidence says |
|---|---|
| PC | Metacritic showed 79, “Generally Favorable,” in its 2026 snapshot. Sampled reviews praise presentation, atmosphere, music, story and puzzles; some note sluggish-feeling controls, interruptions and uneven ideas. Metacritic PC critic page. |
| Switch 2 | Platform-specific review excerpts praise art, puzzles and cooperation between Lana and Mui; some raise short length, light challenge, input adjustment and setting transitions. A comparable aggregate score is not stated in the cited coverage. Switch 2 critic reviews. |
| PS5 and Xbox | Review-score or technical-performance comparisons are not established by the cited material. Thunderful links to storefronts for these platforms. Publisher launch announcement. |
Release date and editions
Thunderful says Planet of Lana II: Children of the Leaf launched on March 5, 2026, and links to Steam, PlayStation 5, Xbox and Switch storefronts. The publisher also announced a demo for Nintendo Switch and Switch 2, as well as a Planet of Lana Collection and Supporter Edition bundle. See Thunderful’s launch announcement.
Rank #3
- MONTESSORI INSPIRED GAME THAT INTRODUCES EARLY GEOGRAPHY THROUGH HANDS ON DISCOVERY – The PlanToys Wooden Guess My Planet Game helps children explore the planets in a tactile, intuitive way. By observing shapes, colors and attributes, children learn to identify planetary differences through natural curiosity and repeated discovery—aligning with Montessori principles of sensory based learning.
- SUPPORTS CRITICAL THINKING, LOGIC DEVELOPMENT AND PROBLEM SOLVING – As children study clues, eliminate options and analyze visual details, they engage in early reasoning skills that strengthen scientific thinking. The game encourages children to slow down, compare pieces and think strategically, helping them understand how logical steps lead to accurate conclusions.
- DEVELOPS LANGUAGE SKILLS, VOCABULARY AND CONFIDENT COMMUNICATION – Asking questions, interpreting clues and describing features encourage children to articulate ideas clearly. This interactive exchange supports expressive language, builds confidence in speaking and nurtures an interest in learning scientific terms in a warm, child friendly way.
- ENCOURAGES SOCIAL PLAY, TURN TAKING AND EMOTIONAL RESILIENCE – The game naturally promotes cooperative play as children guess, share clues, take turns and respond to one another’s reasoning. Children practise patience, celebrate one another’s success and build emotional flexibility as they navigate surprises, mistakes and moments of accomplishment.
- CRAFTED FROM SUSTAINABLE, CHILD SAFE MATERIALS WITH A CALMING, NATURAL AESTHETIC – Made from sustainably sourced wood and finished with non toxic pigments and water based dyes, the set reflects PlanToys commitment to safe, eco conscious design. The warm wood tones and smooth textures support calm, focused play ideal for Montessori and nature inspired environments.
Atari lists a physical “Kindred Spirits Edition.” The available listing does not establish its full contents, current Amazon availability or price, so check the specific platform and edition details before buying. Check Atari’s Kindred Spirits Edition listing.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.Is Planet of Lana II worth playing?
If you value expressive visuals, an evocative soundtrack, an emotional story and puzzle-platforming, the broadly favorable reviews suggest it is worth considering. If your priority is high challenge, a long campaign or especially responsive controls, weigh the reviewer-specific reservations alongside the platform-specific coverage rather than relying on the PC Metascore alone.
Quick Recap
Rank #4
- Real scientific deduction: Use the companion app to survey for objects and apply logic rules to deduce Planet X's location like an actual astronomer conducting genuine cosmic investigation
- App-integrated gameplay: The free companion app randomizes object arrangements and Planet X location each game, ensuring fresh strategic challenges with procedural generation that guarantees replayability
- Strategic publishing system: Publish theories and conduct searches once you believe you've solved the puzzle, creating multiple decision points that reward careful observation and logical deduction
- Perfect for group discovery: Designed for one to four players ages thirteen and up to collaborate or compete in sixty to seventy-five minutes, making it ideal for game night with friends or family
- Trusted designer pedigree: Created by acclaimed designers Ben Rosset and Matthew O'Malley with beautiful artwork, published by Renegade Game Studios, a respected name in modern strategy board games
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