Planet of Lana 2 PC System Requirements and Best Steam Deck Settings
As someone who genuinely loved the quiet magic of the first Planet of Lana, I went into Planet of Lana II: Children of the Leaf with cautious optimism. Sequels can be tricky. Go too big and you lose the charm.
Stay too safe and it feels unnecessary. Thankfully, this follow-up feels like the natural evolution fans were hoping for — more ambitious, more refined, and clearly crafted with confidence.
Developed by Wishfully and published by Thunderful Publishing, the sequel launches on March 5, 2026, and it’s clear the team didn’t just iterate — they expanded the universe in meaningful ways.
PC System Requirements — Accessible but Expanded
Good news for PC players: you won’t need a monster rig to enjoy the game. While storage requirements have grown, the core hardware demands remain friendly for mid-range systems. Here’s a clean breakdown:
| Component | Minimum | Recommended |
|---|---|---|
| OS | Windows 10 (64-bit) | Windows 10 (64-bit) |
| Processor | Intel Core i5 | Intel Core i7 |
| Memory | 4 GB RAM | 6 GB RAM |
| Graphics | Nvidia GeForce GTX 660 | Nvidia GeForce GTX 1060 |
| Storage | 44 GB | 44 GB |
| DirectX | Version 11 | Version 11 |
The jump to 44 GB of storage is noticeable compared to the original, but considering the sequel is reportedly nearly twice the size, that increase makes sense. What’s impressive is that the processing requirements remain very reasonable in 2026 terms.
Steam Deck: Not Just Compatible — Fully Optimized
This is where I got genuinely excited. The developers prioritized optimization early, and it shows. The game is officially Steam Deck Verified, which means:
- Full controller support with no compromises.
- 60 FPS at High settings in internal tests.
- UI and text scaled perfectly for handheld readability.
For players like me who love cinematic indie adventures on the go, this is huge. Planet of Lana feels tailor-made for portable sessions, and knowing it runs smoothly without tweaking settings is reassuring.
Unity 6 and a More Ambitious World
Built on the Unity 6 engine, Children of the Leaf pushes further into physics-driven puzzles and environmental storytelling. From what we’ve seen, the world feels more alive and mechanically layered.
Expect:
- New biomes including snowy peaks, deep ocean segments, and even urban environments.
- Longer campaign estimated at 6–8 hours.
- Enhanced movement with wall jumps, sliding, and climbing mechanics.
- Deeper cooperation between Lana and Mui, especially during stealth and puzzle sequences.
The expanded mechanics don’t feel like gimmicks. They feel like natural progression. Lana is more agile, Mui is more responsive, and the puzzle design appears more dynamic thanks to improved physics systems.
Release Platforms and Game Pass Day One
The game launches simultaneously across platforms on March 5, 2026. It will be available on:
- PC (Steam and Microsoft Store)
- PlayStation 4 and PlayStation 5
- Xbox One and Xbox Series X|S
- Nintendo Switch and Nintendo Switch 2
Even better, it arrives day one on Xbox Game Pass and PC Game Pass, making it extremely accessible for subscribers. A 14-minute public demo released on February 11, 2026, already gave players a taste of five different areas, and early impressions have been very positive.
What excites me most about Planet of Lana II isn’t just the technical upgrades or the expanded scope. It’s the confidence. This doesn’t look like a sequel chasing trends. It feels like a team that understood what made the original special and decided to build on it thoughtfully.
If the emotional storytelling lands as well as the gameplay improvements suggest, Children of the Leaf could easily become one of 2026’s standout indie releases. For fans of cinematic platformers, story-driven adventures, and beautifully crafted worlds, this is absolutely one to watch.
Planet of Lana II: Children of the Leaf on Steam Deck – A Hand-Painted Sequel That Actually Hits 60 FPS
Planet of Lana II: Children of the Leaf is officially Steam Deck Verified, and as someone who adored the first game, this is exactly the kind of sequel news I like to wake up to. The follow-up to the emotional sci-fi platformer is set to launch on March 5, 2026, and there’s already a playable demo live on Steam.
After spending time with it and digging into performance details, I can confidently say: this is shaping up to be one of the most beautiful handheld experiences of the year.
The first Planet of Lana proved that cinematic 2D adventures still have a place in a world obsessed with photorealism. The sequel doubles down on that signature hand-painted art style, but with sharper environmental detail, richer lighting, and more ambitious animation work. On a portable screen like the Steam Deck, the game absolutely shines.
Steam Deck Performance – Yes, It’s a Real 60 FPS
Developer Wishfully Studios has optimized the game to run at a stable 60 FPS on High settings at the Steam Deck’s native resolution. That’s not just a marketing bullet point — it actually matters here. This isn’t a static puzzle game; smooth animation is critical for platforming precision and cinematic flow.
| Setting | Recommended Value | Why It Matters |
|---|---|---|
| Graphics Preset | High | Targeted for stable 60 FPS with full visual fidelity |
| Resolution | 1280 x 800 | Native Steam Deck resolution for best clarity |
| V-Sync | On | Prevents tearing during side-scrolling scenes |
| Frame Limit | 60 FPS | Delivers the smoothest animation experience |
| Refresh Rate | 60Hz (LCD) / 90Hz (OLED) | Match your panel for optimal fluidity |
On the OLED model especially, the game’s color palette looks phenomenal. Deep greens, glowing alien skies, soft environmental gradients — this is the kind of title that reminds you why high-quality 2D art still hits harder than many 3D blockbusters.
Battery-Saving “Efficiency Profile” for Travel
If you’re gaming on the go and want more battery life without tanking the experience, there’s a smart compromise setup that works surprisingly well.
- Set Frame Rate Limit to 40 FPS via the Steam Deck Quick Access Menu.
- Set Refresh Rate to 40Hz to align with the frame cap and reduce power draw.
- Switch Graphics Preset to Medium for a small wattage reduction with minimal visual loss.
From testing trends and what we know from the original game’s optimization, this configuration can shave off roughly 1–2 watts while keeping the experience far smoother than a traditional 30 FPS cap. Honestly, 40 FPS on the Deck is one of the platform’s secret weapons — it feels way better than the number suggests.
Technical Quirks You Should Know
The demo build isn’t perfect, and that’s okay. It’s labeled as a vertical slice, and some transition areas show slight frame pacing hiccups. These are expected to be polished for the full release.
- Blurry visuals? Toggle Windowed Mode off and on. Some users report that internal resolution scaling doesn’t refresh correctly otherwise, which can affect features like FSR.
- Frame drops after Sleep/Resume? Restarting the game usually clears temporary performance dips.
None of these issues feel game-breaking, and they’re minor compared to how well the core experience runs overall.
Why This Sequel Matters
We’re in a strange era where “verified” labels don’t always guarantee smooth gameplay. But in this case, Planet of Lana II actually earns its badge. It runs clean, looks stunning, and feels tailor-made for handheld play. That’s rare.
If the full release on March 5, 2026, maintains the demo’s artistic ambition while polishing minor technical hiccups, this could easily become one of the best narrative platformers on Steam Deck.
As a fan of cinematic indie adventures, this is exactly the kind of sequel I hoped for: more refined, more confident, and perfectly playable on the go.
