Fans of Hollow Knight: Silksong have excellent news to discover at the start of 2026. An independent game called Monster Maestro has just landed on Steam – completely free – and the reviews are rave. Developed by Game Academy, this metroidvania immerses you in a haunted mansion, mixing musical exploration and battles against ghostly monsters.
“Play as Maestro, a conductor and his traveling troupe who must perform in a mysterious mansion,” explain the developers. The visual and sound ambiance plays a fundamental role, with soundtrack composed especially for the experience.
An assumed inspiration: Hollow Knight, Celeste and Megaman
Game Academy does not hide its influences: Hollow Knight, Celestial And Megaman have all left their mark on Monstro Maestro. And you can feel it. The game relies on demanding platform mechanics, polished environments and boss fights that require precision and mastery of rhythm.
You will have to help your musicianscaptured by the evil owner of the mansion, MONSTRO, and face five formidable bosses. A system of hidden bells allows you to unlock a secret mode called “Kaiso Board Challenge”, the ultimate test of your skills.
A musical and magical experience
The music is not just a simple sound design in Monstro Maestro. She is an integral part of the gameplay. Your conductor’s baton also acts as a magic weaponcapable of projecting attacks in sync with surrounding sounds. The game thus offers a welcome originality in the metroidvania landscape.
“The boss fights were really awesome in this game and the music was great,” says one player on Steam. The general aesthetic and the fluid animations have also won over the community, which speaks of a “visually very inspiring” game.
Free, short, intense: a game not to be missed
Monstro Maestro can be finished in one eveningaccording to feedback from the first players. This makes it the perfect game to discover without pressureto test the genre or simply have a great time.
The game is available exclusively on PC via Steam, and as of now, it boasts a score of 100% positive reviews. A rare feat, which is worth the detour. If you like rhythmic challenges and immersive atmospheres, don’t miss out.