Behind the Making of "Lana II": A Conversation with the Two Directors on the Sequel's Development, the Evolved Story of Lana and Mui, and Their Journey Ahead [TGS2025]
Note: the original Japanese article can be found at:
https://www.4gamer.net/games/918/G091818/20250927081/
Editorial Department: Junpoco | 2025/09/27 15:20 (UTC)
“Planet of Lana II: Children of the Leaf” (PC / PS5 / Xbox Series X|S / Nintendo Switch / PS4 / Xbox One) is the sequel to the puzzle adventure “Planet of Lana,” developed by Swedish studio Wishfully.
The original game received high praise for its visuals depicting a world of beautiful blue skies and greenery, minimal use of dialogue or UI explanations, and an immersive storytelling experience where players “feel their way forward.” In this sequel, new adventures await the grown-up protagonist Lana and her feline-like companion Mui.
At Tokyo Game Show 2025, the game was playable at the Neon Noroshi booth in the indie games corner. Following a hands-on session, we spoke with game directors Adam Stjärnljus and Klas Martin Eriksson, marking their second interview after gamescom 2025. They shared insights into the story connecting both titles and their passion behind developing this new installment.
We began by asking when the idea for the sequel first emerged. Given the original game’s success and story depth, many players naturally expected a follow-up. In response, both directors revealed they already felt during the creation of the first game that “one game alone wouldn’t be enough to contain it.”
The vast backstory and expansive world were so compelling even for their own creators—making them eager to explore what comes next—that they believed players would feel similarly. Answering those feelings and questions became the driving force behind developing the sequel.
When we asked whether the story’s ending was decided from the beginning, they explained it emerged during the writing process of the second game. While extensive lore and background existed in the first title, how to conclude the narrative had not been determined at that stage.
Gameplay has also seen significant evolution. With Lana now grown, she naturally runs faster than before. New actions such as sliding and jumping onto balls have been added—these not only express Lana’s growth but also serve as integral elements of the story.
Puzzle variety has greatly expanded, with new mechanics involving controlling creatures introduced. Most notably, the gameplay centered around Lana and Mui helping each other has evolved significantly. Mui is now portrayed as even more endearing—designed to feel like a beloved companion one might share their life with, much like a dog or cat—aiming to become someone truly irreplaceable for players.
The music is once again composed by Tsutomu Furukawa. With no dialogue or subtitles, the soundtrack plays a vital role in conveying the story. The development team emphasized they have great trust in Furukawa and therefore allow him significant creative freedom. While emotional cues for specific scenes are provided, they generally leave it to Furukawa’s own interpretation and expression of what he feels.
The story in this installment unfolds with greater complexity.
Lana, slightly older than before, now grapples with identity struggles and confronts the secrets of her homeland.
The people of planet Novo have acquired scientific knowledge and technology, causing profound changes across their world. The central themes throughout the game are “change” and “a crisis of identity.”
Finally, when asked to share a message for readers, the development team expressed their special feelings toward Japan.
For “Planet of Lana,” deeply influenced by Hayao Miyazaki and Studio Ghibli’s works, Japan is almost like a spiritual home. At this year’s Tokyo Game Show, it was especially meaningful to present their game again in Japan after a long time—and heartening that many people showed interest and welcomed the title warmly.
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The two directors concluded with this message to Japanese fans:
“We are genuinely excited about this game. We learned a lot from the first title, and our team has grown too. With all our passion poured into it, we can’t wait to share it with players as soon as possible. From the bottom of our hearts, thank you for your support and love. We’re confident you’ll enjoy the next installment just as much.”
“Planet of Lana II: Children of the Leaf” is scheduled for release before the end of 2026. Development is progressing smoothly, with efforts now focused on polishing the game further to potentially launch earlier in 2026. Whether you’ve played the first title or are new to it, keep an eye out for future updates—and if you haven’t yet experienced the original, be sure to do so!
Stages Experienced in the TGS 2025 Demo Version
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Puzzle Adventure “Planet of Lana II: Children of the Leaf” Is a Traditional Sequel That Lets You Feel the World’s Transformation [gamescom]
We watched the live demo of “Planet of Lana II: Children of the Leaf,” developed by Swedish studio Wishfully, at the gamescom venue. Although Japanese localization for UI and text has been confirmed, this game retains its beautifully Ghibli-like world—while further enhancing gameplay with clever puzzles and action.
[August 24, 2025, 17:34]
- Keywords:
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- PC: Planet of Lana II: Children of the Leaf
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- Wishfully Studios
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- PS5: Planet of Lana II: Children of the Leaf
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- Writer: Utagawa Umihito
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