Maestro (2024 video game)
| Maestro | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Developer | Double Jack |
| Publisher | Double Jack |
| Platforms | Meta Quest 2, Meta Quest 3, Meta Quest Pro, Nintendo Switch, Nintendo Switch 2, Pico Neo 3, Pico 4, PlayStation 5, PlayStation VR2 |
| Release | Oct 17, 2024 |
| Genre | Rhythm |
| Mode | Single-player |
Maestro is an indie virtual reality rhythm game developed and published by Double Jack. It involves simulating conducting a group of musicians such as an orchestra or brass band, making movements with a virtual baton, commanding them to start and stop playing, changing the instruments dynamics and so on.
The game was released in October 2024 for Steam VR, Meta Quest and on the following year for PlayStation 5, being supported in virtual reality headsets such as Quest 2, Quest 3 and Quest Pro, Pico 4 and PlayStation VR2. It is included in the Meta Horizon+ subscription on Meta Horizon Store.[1]
On July 21st, 2026, Double Jack announced it will be coming for Nintendo Switch and Nintendo Switch 2 on September 17th, thus making it non-VR compatible for the first time. The new release will include a new song, "Ashes on the Fire", from Attack on Titan,[2] which was released as a paid DLC for other platforms on August 20th.[3] A demo version,[4] for both platforms,[5] is available since August 14th.
Development
Developer Double Jack is based in Paris.[6] The game's first demo, with the name Maestro: The Masterclass, was released on August 18th, 2022, at that moment available for Oculus Quest and Meta Quest Pro,[7] becoming viral on TikTok. The game continued to be developed for over two years, received investment from the Indie VR Fund in 2023. Wild Sheep Studio was contracted by Double Jack to work on the VR version of Maestro after the cancellation of Wild, making Maestro the first product shipped by Wild Sheep Studio. On the next year, the game was released, in October 17th, 2024.[8]
On June 23rd, 2026, Double Jack teased the upcoming updates, including Expert mode, a better scoring system, and an Attack on Titan DLC.[9] One month later, it was revealed that the song will be "Ashes on the Fire".[2]
Gameplay
The game is designed for virtual reality headsets and the usage of motion controllers is optional, as hand tracking is also supported. The player can use their bare hands or hold any kind of object for great immersion, such as a pen or a chopstick.[10]
Songs list
The base game comes with 15 songs, from composers such as Wagner, Orff, Saint-Saëns, Dvořák, Verdi, Prokofiev, Stravinsky, Mussorgsky, Ellington, Levy, Prima, Beethoven, Tchaikovsky, Mozart, Vivaldi and Mendelssohn, with extra music, including contemporary songs such as "Hedwig's Theme" from Harry Potter, being available as 5 different DLCs.[11]
Base game
| Composer | Song |
|---|---|
| Wagner | Ride of the Valkyries |
| Orff | Carmina Burana |
| Saint Saens | Danse Macabre |
| Dvorak | From The New World |
| Verdi | Messa Da Requiem |
| Prokofiev | The Dance Of The Knights |
| Stravinsky | The Rite of Spring |
| Mussorgsky | Night on Bald Mountain |
| Ellington | Caravan |
| Levy | Whiplash |
| Prima | Sing Sing Sing |
| Beethoven | Symphony No. 5 |
| Tchaikovsky | Swan Lake |
| Mozart | Figaro's Wedding |
| Mendelssohn | The Hebrides |
| Vivaldi | Winter |
DLCs
DLCs per release order, all paid, except when mentioned.
Secret Sorcery
| Composer | Song |
|---|---|
| John Williams | Hedwig's Theme (from Harry Potter) |
| Paul Dukas | The Sorcerer's Apprentice (from Fantasia) |
| Edvard Grieg | In the Hall of the Mountain King |
| Hector Berlioz | Symphonie fantastique |
| Manuel de Falla | El amor brujo |
Doom Bound
| Composer | Song |
|---|---|
| Djawadi | Main Theme (from Game of Thrones) |
| Shore | The Bridge of Khazad Dum (de The Lord of the Rings) |
| Offenbach | Orpheus in the Underworld: Can Can |
| Shostakovich | Symphony No. 10 |
| Liszt | Totentanz |
Duel of the Fates
| Composer | Song |
|---|---|
| John Williams | Duel of the Fates (from Star Wars: Episode I – The Phantom Menace) |
La Crème de la Crème (free DLC)
| Composer | Song |
|---|---|
| Bizet | Toreador Song (from Carmen) |
| Mozart | Dies Irae (from Requiem) |
| Beethoven | Ode to Joy (from Symphony No. 9) |
| Holst | Mars, Bringer Of War (from The Planets) |
| Brahms | Hungarian Dance No. 5 |
All Aboard!
Songs with pirate theme.
| Composer | Song |
|---|---|
| Zimmer & Badelt | He's a Pirate (from Pirates of the Caribbean) |
| Zimmer | Jack Sparrow (from Pirates of the Caribbean) |
| Unknown Author | Wellerman |
| Rimski-Korsakov | The Shipwreck (de Scheherazade) |
| Vaughan-Williams | A Sea Symphony (Overture) |
Attack on Titan
Includes two songs from Attack on Titan.[3]
| Composer | Song |
|---|---|
| Kohta Yamamoto | Attack on Titan (from Attack on Titan) |
| Hiroyuki Sawano | Ashes on The Fire (from Attack on Titan) |
Reception
| Aggregator | Score |
|---|---|
| Metacritic | Meta Quest: 93/100[12] |
Maestro received "universal acclaim" reviews according to Metacritic.[12] In 2024, it won the Game of the Year recognition in Meta Horizon Store[13] and was nominated as VR Game of the Year on The Steam Awards of 2024.[14] In 2025, it was nominated as XR Game of the Year by AIXR XR Awards[15] and chosen as one of the games in the 2025 PICO Store Annual Awards.[16]
UploadVR gave it 4.5 out of 5, citing "Maestro is a breath of fresh air compared to every other VR rhythm game I've played over the years."[17] Impulse Gamer gave the game a 5 out of 5 score, calling it "a must have game if you yearn for Guitar Hero but from a conductor perspective".[18] Gaming Nexus gave it 8.5 out of 10, saying "Maestro puts the hand tracking of the Meta Quest 3 to the test, and nails it. With song familiarity, unlocks galore, and a simple, yet fun and challenging interface, this is a game you don't want to pass up. Even if you're not a musician, you'll be pleased with the hand tracking by itself, and that's going to get Maestro a lot of roses. Bravo."[19] Digital Chumps gave it 9.5 out of 10, pointing that it "is quite approachable for a rhythm title" and that "comes with the full musical experience that will keep you playing for hours".[20]
The game sold at least 150,000 copies for the Quest platform, according to the number of people who unlocked at least one achievement on it; at least 250,000 users tried the free demo version.[21]
Awards
| Year | Award | Category | Result | Ref. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | Meta Horizon Store | Game of the Year | Won | [13] |
| The Steam Awards | VR Game of the Year | Nominated | [14] | |
| 2025 | AIXR XR Awards | XR Game of the Year | Nominated | [15] |
| 2025 PICO Store Annual Awards | Won | [16] | ||
References
- ↑ Hayden, Scott (2026-02-23). "Meta's 'Horizon Plus' Game Subscription Service Now Has Over 1M Active Members". Road to VR. Retrieved 2026-03-11.
- 1 2 "Maestro: Official Nintendo Switch/Switch 2 Announcement Trailer". YouTube. 2026-07-21. Retrieved 2026-07-21.
- 1 2 "Attack on Titan". Meta. 2026-08-20. Retrieved 2026-08-20.
- ↑ "Maestro". Nintendo Store. Retrieved 2026-08-14.
- ↑ "Maestro". Nintendo Store. Retrieved 2026-08-14.
- ↑ "Maestro Launches "All Aboard!" DLC Featuring Pirates of the Caribbean Music". Sidequest VR. 2025-12-17. Retrieved 2026-03-22.
- ↑ Levine, Gloria (2022-11-11). "Maestro – The Masterclass: Become an Orchestra Conductor in Virtual Reality". 80LV. Retrieved 2026-03-12.
- ↑ "Maestro, the VR orchestra game based on the viral hit demo, launches October 17th". 2024-10-04. Retrieved 2026-03-12.
- ↑ Maestro: Le Game (2024-06-23). "MAESTRO SUMMER 26' UDPATE". YouTube.
- ↑ "How Hand Interactions Are Opening New Possibilities for VR Developers". meta.com. 2025-10-16. Retrieved 2026-03-11.
- ↑ "Maestro". Archived from the original on 2026-02-08. Retrieved 2026-03-11.
- 1 2 "Maestro (2024)". Metacritic. Retrieved 2026-03-11.
- 1 2 Valat-Marty, Aurore (2025-01-01). "Maestro game - Best App of 2024 -". artstation.com. Retrieved 2026-03-11.
- 1 2 "The 2024 Steam Awards". store.steampowered.com. Steam. December 31, 2024. Retrieved January 5, 2025.
- 1 2 "Winners & Finalists 2025". XR Awards. 2025-12-09. Retrieved 2026-03-11.
- 1 2 "2025 PICO Store Annual Awards". Retrieved 2026-03-12.
- ↑ Hopper, Don (2024-10-16). "Maestro Review: Hitting A High Note With Hand Tracking On Quest". UploadVR. Retrieved 2026-03-11.
- ↑ Wright, James (2025-07-20). "Maestro Review (Meta Quest)". Retrieved 2026-03-11.
- ↑ Moorer, Joseph (2024-10-18). "Maestro". Retrieved 2026-03-11.
- ↑ Silberman, Will (2025-07-16). "Maestro: Complete Edition (Meta Quest 3) Review". Digital Chumps. Retrieved 2026-03-11.
- ↑ "Visualize Meta Achievements Definitions". meta-achievements.onrender.com. Retrieved 2026-05-28.