Planet of Lana (2023, Windows) Review

ILO? ILO! ILO ILO ILO?! ILO-HOOO!

Planet of Lana is a straightforward, side-scrolling, story-driven puzzle platformer with parallax scrolling and undeniably pretty visuals. We’ve seen this kind of debut before: a fledgling developer, a short runtime, smooth controls, an easy-to-like presentation, and a very linear structure. It’s a safe and sensible way for a studio—Wishfully Studios, in this case—to get its feet wet in the games industry.

Its inspirations are clear, perhaps too clear. Limbo and Inside loom large over the experience, and while Planet of Lana borrows their visual language and restrained puzzle design, it never quite reaches the same emotional heights or immersive depth. Those influences are both its foundation and its biggest weakness.

The game often feels overly directed. Sentimental cutscenes interrupt the flow of play, and redundant flashbacks—sometimes to events that happened moments earlier—sap momentum. A handful of clichés and a slightly saccharine tone dull the emotional impact. Fortunately, after a somewhat shaky opening, these issues recede, and the game gradually finds a better rhythm.

The story begins in a nameless coastal village, framed by lush natural scenery in both foreground and background. This quiet, pastoral life is abruptly shattered when a robotic alien force descends from the sky like falling meteors. Towering machines—reminiscent of War of the Worlds’ tripods, though apparently sporting five legs—stomp through the distant landscape, while smaller units hunt anything that moves. Lana’s village is overrun, its inhabitants abducted, including her sister. Lana sets out to rescue them.

Her sister’s name is Ilo—a fact the game makes sure you never forget. Lana calls out “Ilo” incessantly, even in moments where it borders on the absurd. I found myself imagining her opening an empty hut and calling the name into a refrigerator, just in case. It’s unintentionally funny, and not in a flattering way. This repetition feels like a misjudged narrative choice.

“Ilo?”

Where Planet of Lana truly shines is when it deemphasizes storytelling and focuses on gameplay. Controls are smooth and responsive, supported by fluid, expressive animations. After escaping the village, Lana encounters a small creature caught in a trap. You free it, and it becomes your companion for most of the journey—a squeaky-voiced, catlike animal and an immediately likable presence.

Using simple commands, you direct the creature to assist with puzzles: reaching high ledges, pulling ropes, burrowing underground, or activating organic light switches in dark caves. This partnership forms the backbone of the game’s design and works well. You can also pet the creature—a feature that exists largely to make players feel virtuous. Watching streamers gush over it as if it were revolutionary, only to forget about it minutes later, is mildly amusing.

“IIIILOO!”

Stealth mechanics are simple but effective. Tall grass offers concealment, but safety is often just out of reach. A patrolling spider drone or predatory creature might spot you, giving chase and killing you swiftly. Your companion can distract enemies, but if it’s caught, the result is instant failure. Thankfully, checkpoints are generous, which keeps frustration to a minimum.

“ILO-HO-HOOO!”

These stealth sections blend with familiar box-dragging and lever-based puzzles, enhanced by solid physics interactions. Some setups are genuinely clever and took me a while to decipher, but solutions are always logical and readable through environmental cues. The difficulty curve is well judged, encouraging experimentation without resorting to trial-and-error.

Visually, the game consistently presents its world as a vibrant, living place worth saving. Distinct enemies, alien plant life, overgrown ruins, and a fictional spoken language give it a sense of identity. In darker caves and abandoned structures, strange symbols and wall markings hint at deeper lore. You’re free to interpret them—or ignore them entirely, as I did. While the game touches on mature themes and primal fears, such as darkness and arachnophobia, the narrative never fully capitalizes on them.

As a game, Planet of Lana is pleasant, varied, and mercifully concise. It ends exactly when it should. As a story, however, it’s easy to overlook without losing much. Clocking in at around three hours, it’s best suited for players looking for a relaxed, visually pleasing experience on a quiet weekend—nothing more, nothing less.