Planet of Lana

87%
Game Brain Score Based on 3,803 reviews
  • story
  • music
  • graphics
Planet of Lana Game Cover
The Planet of Lana is a beautiful narrative on the Xbox Series X with engaging gameplay.
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Planet of Lana is a serene adventure game set on a transformed planet, where a faceless army has disrupted the balance between nature and humans. The game features unique companion-based gameplay, puzzles with diverse challenges, and stealth-based sequences to carefully navigate dangerous situations. Discover an epic story that spans galaxies and centuries while trying to preserve the planet's beauty.

  • Nintendo Switch
  • PC
  • Play​station 4
  • Play​station 5
  • Steam Deck
  • Windows
  • Xbox One
  • Xbox Series X|S
  • Cloud
  • Play​Station
  • Xbox
  • Xbox Game Pass
  • x_box_cloud_gaming
Genres & TagsPlay Modes

Reviews

87%
Audience ScoreBased on 3,803 reviews
story976 positive mentions
grinding30 negative mentions
  • Stunning visuals and art style that resemble a hand-painted world.
  • Beautiful soundtrack that enhances the emotional experience of the game.
  • Engaging story that is told through environmental storytelling without the use of dialogue.
  • Puzzles are often too easy and repetitive, lacking complexity and challenge.
  • Game length is short, typically around 4-6 hours, which may not justify the price for some players.
  • Controls can feel sluggish and imprecise, leading to frustration during platforming sections.
  • story1,911 mentions

    The story of "Planet of Lana" is primarily conveyed through environmental storytelling, featuring a simple yet emotionally resonant narrative about a girl and her companion on a quest to rescue loved ones from an alien threat. While some players appreciate the heartwarming themes and stunning visuals, others find the plot predictable and lacking depth, with a focus more on aesthetics than complex storytelling. Overall, the game is praised for its beautiful art and music, creating an immersive experience, though it may not satisfy those seeking a more intricate narrative.

    • “A gorgeous little side scroller with interesting puzzles and a beautiful story, told through lovingly executed environmental storytelling.”
    • “The story, the art style, the narrative, the soundtrack, all came together to create a beautiful game filled with such incredible emotion.”
    • “Planet of Lana is a beautiful game with a touching and heartwarming story!”
    • “The story tries hard to be poignant but ends up being as flat as a pancake, leaving no emotional impact whatsoever.”
    • “If, and I mean big if, this game had one, all of the above mentioned negatives still wouldn't make me dislike this game, as for me personally story is the most important thing about the game, but man is it boring.”
    • “The whole idea of the story in this game just felt so lacking and dispassionate: you have this beautifully painted world invaded by robots, but as you progress through the story, it becomes clear that the natural dichotomy of nature vs machine which one might expect to be explored in a game such as this, is actually too complicated for the storytellers to bother with.”
  • music1,330 mentions

    The music in "Planet of Lana" has been widely praised for its emotional depth and beautiful orchestration, often compared to cinematic scores that enhance the game's atmosphere. Players appreciate how the soundtrack complements the stunning visuals and storytelling, creating an immersive experience that resonates emotionally. While some noted occasional repetition in the music, the overall consensus is that the soundtrack is a standout feature, elevating the gameplay and leaving a lasting impression.

    • “The music was gorgeous, the scenery was breathtaking, and the gameplay was entertaining without being too frustrating.”
    • “The soundtrack is beautiful, the visuals are immersive and often breathtaking.”
    • “The music is stunning, the puzzles are satisfying, and the whole thing has a fantastic atmosphere.”
    • “Bought this game because it was visually stunning but I'm afraid that's all there is to it (and soundtrack).”
    • “Also, the musical ambience tremendously lacks in this game.”
    • “You go for long stretches with no background music; I had to play Spotify to add some ambience to it.”
  • graphics1,199 mentions

    The graphics of "Planet of Lana" have been widely praised for their stunning, hand-painted art style that evokes comparisons to Studio Ghibli films, with vibrant colors and captivating landscapes that enhance the game's emotional storytelling. Many reviewers noted that the visuals are a standout feature, often overshadowing the gameplay, which some found simplistic or repetitive. Overall, the game's aesthetic, combined with a beautiful soundtrack, creates an immersive experience that resonates with players, making it a visual delight despite its gameplay shortcomings.

    • “The game's visuals are nothing short of breathtaking, with every frame feeling like a painting rich with color and detail, creating an atmosphere that's both captivating and otherworldly.”
    • “Planet of Lana is a beautiful game, with well-designed environments and creatures and a charming art style.”
    • “The art style, the storyline, and the characters are unique and beautiful.”
    • “I really wanted to love it because the visuals were so alluring, but ultimately the simple and uninspiring puzzles and platforming sections...you know...the actual gameplay, couldn't match the gorgeous setting.”
    • “So the story and gameplay are both severely lacking, can the graphics carry it? Well, no, they can't; there's a lot of detail in the graphics but the level design being mostly a straight line means that even that gets to be pretty tiring.”
    • “This game seems to focus more on the visuals; the puzzles felt more like a chore instead of true brain teasers.”
  • gameplay786 mentions

    The gameplay of "Planet of Lana" is characterized by its simplicity and accessibility, featuring straightforward platforming and puzzle mechanics that are easy to grasp but can become repetitive over time. While the game excels in visual presentation and storytelling, many players feel that the gameplay lacks depth and variety, often relying on basic interactions and familiar mechanics reminiscent of titles like "Inside" and "Limbo." Overall, it offers a relaxing experience with engaging visuals and music, but may not satisfy those seeking more challenging or innovative gameplay.

    • “Fantastic gameplay and graphics... very addictive.”
    • “The gameplay itself is incredibly fun, with puzzles that feel rewarding to solve but are never too difficult, and controls that are incredibly easy to pick up.”
    • “Planet of Lana achieves a nice balance of gameplay and storytelling as you push, pull, jump, control and manipulate your way across the world, solving satisfying puzzles, sneaking your way past cool, creepy robots, and progressing the story with beautiful art pieces and cutscenes.”
    • “It’s as if the developers thought that pretty pictures could mask a complete lack of creativity and gameplay depth.”
    • “The gameplay is mundane and 40 minutes in I had already gotten a bug that made it impossible to proceed with the rest of the game.”
    • “The gameplay itself is nothing more than solving some fairly simple puzzles... so this game isn't going to appeal to everyone.”
  • emotional390 mentions

    The emotional aspect of "Planet of Lana" has garnered mixed responses, with many players praising its heartfelt storytelling, stunning visuals, and evocative music that elicit strong emotional reactions, including tears. While some found the narrative simple yet effective, others felt it lacked depth in certain areas, leading to a less impactful emotional experience. Overall, the game is celebrated for its ability to create a touching journey that resonates with players, making it a memorable and engaging experience.

    • “This game hits some emotional highs in unexpected ways.”
    • “Planet of Lana is a stunning cinematic platformer that tells a touching story of friendship and survival.”
    • “The emotional bond between Lana and Mui is portrayed with subtlety and depth, making players genuinely care about their journey and the challenges they face.”
  • atmosphere266 mentions

    The atmosphere of the game is widely praised for its stunning visuals, captivating soundtrack, and immersive storytelling, creating a beautiful and emotional experience. Many reviewers highlight the game's ability to evoke feelings of calmness and wonder, while also providing moments of tension and intrigue. However, some critiques mention that the atmosphere can be inconsistent at times, with certain sections feeling less engaging than others.

    • “The game's visuals are nothing short of breathtaking, with every frame feeling like a painting rich with color and detail, creating an atmosphere that's both captivating and otherworldly.”
    • “The way this game is able to tell the story through the setting and atmosphere has some truly awe-inspiring moments alongside some quiet, somber, and reflective ones.”
    • “A beautifully crafted game which is both fun and engaging, with some of the best artwork and atmosphere I've ever encountered in a game.”
    • “The atmosphere is unfortunately there only sometimes.”
    • “There is some story and evolvement through the game, but it's rather small scale, and even when you're exploring ancient bunkers of the previous civilization, you aren't involved, you're just sort of moving through motions. Unfortunately, it doesn't have the weight, as the game doesn't allow you to stay and take in the atmosphere.”
    • “It was hard for me to connect with the characters or dive into the world's atmosphere, as it was all very shallow.”
  • grinding36 mentions

    The grinding aspect of the game has been widely criticized for its tediousness, with players noting that while puzzles are often easy to understand, the execution can feel slow and repetitive. Many reviewers expressed frustration with the gameplay's pacing, describing it as boring and requiring excessive effort to complete simple tasks. Overall, the experience is marred by a lack of satisfaction in puzzle-solving, leading to a sense of fatigue and a desire for a more engaging gameplay loop.

    • “You'll need a second life for grinding.”
    • “My deal breaker is that, while it is mostly easy to figure out what to do, it's then difficult and tedious to actually do it.”
    • “I did love games like Limbo or Inside and I do really like the graphical appeal of Planet of Lana, but I found the gameplay extremely tedious, stretched, boring, and repetitive.”
    • “On one side, you're always doing the same thing; the puzzles are very similar and you don't feel satisfied when you solve them. It feels tedious; in order to solve the puzzle, you have to go through a lot of steps just to solve a small part of it.”
  • stability25 mentions

    Overall, the game's stability is commendable, with most players reporting smooth performance and minimal bugs, particularly at higher settings. However, some users noted issues such as audio glitches, camera freezing during puzzles, and specific buggy sections, particularly involving water. Despite these minor setbacks, the game generally runs well on various systems, including lower-end configurations.

    • “On a technical side, the game runs great, loading times are fast, and there was only one bug I encountered that made me restart from the last checkpoint.”
    • “And it runs great on the Steam Deck - I had it set to medium graphics quality for a solid 60fps.”
    • “And when it comes to performance, the game runs great at ultra settings, but I also like how they include a 'potato' setting for lower-end systems.”
    • “The water section is really buggy, as well as some audio bugs with pushing objects.”
    • “There are far too frequent fade to black, loading, fade to scene interruptions, with most creating minor sound glitches, like little pops of audio that are unsure if they should play or not.”
    • “Troubleshooting didn't help.”
  • replayability24 mentions

    The game offers limited replayability, primarily appealing to those interested in achievement hunting, as most players are likely to experience it as a one-time playthrough lasting around 4-5 hours. While some users express a desire to revisit the game for fun or to play with others, the overall consensus is that it lacks substantial replay value beyond completing missable achievements.

    • “As for replayability, I will probably give this one another play sometime, just to try to gain some missing achievements.”
    • “At around five hours of playtime for one playthrough plus a bit of replayability for people who want to get all the achievements, it is excellent value for money.”
    • “The game does also have a decent degree of replayability too, for those people who might find the 4-5 hour playtime too short.”
    • “I think the price is slightly too much given the length and replayability (I suspect for most people, this is a one-and-done game), but I certainly don't feel ripped off or anything.”
    • “Not much replay value unless achievement hunting.”
    • “No replayability aside from the missable achievements, and my only criticism is the 'flawless' achievement which requires you to beat the game without dying; that just feels very out of place.”
  • optimization18 mentions

    The optimization of the game has received mixed reviews; while some players report excellent performance with stable frame rates on high-end systems, others experience significant issues, including stuttering and poor performance even on powerful hardware. The inclusion of a "potato" setting for lower-end systems is appreciated, but concerns remain about the overall optimization and whether future updates will address these issues.

    • “And when it comes to performance, the game runs great at ultra settings, but I also like how they include a 'potato' setting for lower-end systems.”
    • “Performance is also great (stable 144 fps at 2160p), as it should be on a last generation high-end PC, but these days that's sadly not guaranteed.”
    • “Performance was great with no frame drops in 1440p@144hz, and you can play it with an unlocked framerate!”
    • “I cannot recommend this game as it is very poorly optimized. The game doesn't run smoothly even with a powerful computer, and even with frame stuttering, the game becomes repetitive and boring.”
    • “I'm not sure if Wishfully intends to do an optimization pass on the game, but if they don't, I'm sure that issue will be addressed.”
    • “Planet of Lana is very casual in both its story and performance.”
  • character development14 mentions

    Character development in the game is enhanced through exceptional character design and sound, fostering a strong connection with the characters. Players appreciate the engaging visuals and audio that complement the gameplay, allowing for a deeper understanding of characters like Lana, Eila, and Mui without detracting from the platform puzzle experience. The attention to detail in both character and environmental design reflects the developers' commitment to creating an immersive and visually captivating world.

    • “It's a platform puzzle game, and the character development never gets in the way of the gameplay, but you get a real sense of who Lana, Eila, and Mui are.”
    • “The attention to detail in character designs, architecture, and natural elements showcases the dedication of the developers to create a visually captivating experience.”
    • “The visuals are stunning, the music and audio are extremely well done, and the character designs for everything--people and creatures--are also great.”
  • humor4 mentions

    The humor in the game is highlighted by its playful mechanics, such as making simple actions feel grandiose, and the absurdity of the character's ragdoll death animations, which elicit laughter despite being immersion-breaking. However, some players feel that a proper death animation would enhance the experience, as the frequent deaths can detract from the overall comedic effect.

    • “I thought it was funny when it would make us do something simple (spamming W, E, or Q key) and then it would make it feel like I did something totally grand, lol.”
    • “The death 'animation' is quite humorous; Lana just drops like a Garry's Mod ragdoll. While it's very funny, it can be immersion-breaking, especially since you die a lot.”
    • “I found it amusing how the game makes simple actions feel grand, like when I was just spamming keys and it felt epic, lol.”
Positive mentions (%)Positive
Neutral mentions (%)Neutral
Negative mentions (%)Negative

Critic Reviews

80% average critic score

Buy Planet of Lana

Play time

5hMedian play time
9hAverage play time
4-7hSpent by most gamers
*Based on 44 analyzed playthroughs

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