Planet of Lana

Play it on: Game Pass, Xbox One, Xbox Series X/S, Windows
Current goal: Make it through the underground ruins

Imagine PlayStation 2 hit Ico mixed with Playdead’s moody puzzle adventure Inside and you get Planet of Lana, a 2D side-scroller where a young child and a shadowy cat-like creature try to escape being captured by alien invaders. You lead the creature from one area to the next while it helps you solve puzzles by hopping on ledges to throw down ropes or running through tunnels to activate switches, all while ominous robotic enemies threaten to fry you on the spot with laser weapons. There are shades of Another World and Oddworld: Abe’s Oddysee, and a lot of other brilliant cinematic puzzle games. I’ve been inching forward from one screen to the next after it came to Game Pass earlier this year, but its ambient soundscapes and windy fields make it my favorite game to play first thing in the morning while I’m still waking up with my coffee. — Ethan Gach