Remember how obsessed people were with rhythm games like Dance Dance Revolution and Guitar Hero when they first came out?
Developers replaced the standard handheld controller with something bigger and more immersive, simulating the rockstar experience for gamers who often had no musical background. VR music games and DAWs are a continuation of that legacy, granting music producers a new way to approach songwriting.
In this article, I’m going to take you on a tour through the best VR music games to date. We’ll start with VR Music Games that anyone can play, before diving deeper into the world of VR Daws and VR Concerts.
Already know the kind of app you want to explore? Use the links here to skip to the section that interests you:
Section 1: VR Music Games
Section 2: VR DAWs for Musicians
Section 3: VR Concerts
VR Music Games
VR music games are defined by their use of songs as the central gameplay mechanic. This can include everything from traditional rhythm games like Rock Band and Dance Dance Revolution to more experimental titles like Rez and Beat Saber.
The appeal of VR music games is twofold. First, they're a lot of fun. Second, they offer an intro to what it feels like making music in VR. So for those of you who are new to the VR music production, these VR music games are a great place to start.
Beat Saber (All VR Headsets) - Arguably the most popular VR rhythm game, Beat Saber has taken the world by storm. It’s like Fruit Ninja but with a musical spin. Arm yourself with two lightsabers and slash through color-coded beats as they fly towards you. You’ll have to slash the beats in the correct direction, and with the correct timing. Best of all, the game comes with an online multiplayer mode that supports up to five people at a time. If you burn out on the songs that come with it, pick up some DLC like the Weeknd or Lady Gaga music packs.
Pistol Whip (Oculus Quest, PSVR) - Coming in at a close second, Pistol Whip combines the classic fun of a first person shooter with everything we love about rhythm games. Dodge enemies that appear and time your shots perfectly to take them down and earn the maximum points.
Unplugged Air Guitar (Oculus Quest) - Rock out on a virtual air guitar by making chord shapes with your left hand and strumming to the beat with your right hand. The more accurate you are, the more combinations you'll unlock to earn a higher score.
As the game title suggests, you won’t need the standard touch controllers for this game. Using the Hand Tracking 2.0 feature from Meta Quest, Air Guitar maps the position of your hands to music in real-time. Choose from the 23 songs that come with the simulator or purchase DLC music packs to expand your options.
Audica (PSVR, Oculus Quest, Oculus Rift) - Here’s another popular VR rhythm shooter that asks you to hitting targets in time with the music. Brought to you by Harmonix, the same company that developed Rock Band and Dance Central.
Rock Band VR (Oculus Touch, Rock Band 4 Guitar Controller) - Grab your guitar and get ready to rock out in front of a virtual crowd. If you enjoyed the original Rock Band series by Harmonix, this experience takes things to the next level. Classic mode lets you hit individual notes in a guitar solo, but the game has evolved to include complex chord combinations. Good stuff!
Dance Central (Oculus Quest) - This VR fitness game drops you right into a virtual club, where you can choose from a variety of songs and dance routines. Like any dance game, the timing of your movements dictate the score you get at the end. Between the realistic graphics and motion-tracking technology, it's easy to lose yourself in the experience and just dance.
Synth Riders VR (PSVR, Oculus Quest) - This VR music game that simulates the experience of playing a synthesizer, for people who might not know how to play a real instrument. Use the motion of your hands to control your audio output. The retro synthwave aesthetic is easy on the eyes and the game itself is not overly complex. It features a variety of custom songs to choose from.
Rez Infinite (PSVR, Oculus Quest) - Based on the 2001 music game Rez, this recreation of the cult classic shooter-adventure offers a refreshing break from the other dance games and band simulators. With a markedly less violent tone than Pistol Whip, it's a safe bet for younger gamers who enjoy the retro futurist look.
SoundBoxing (HTC Vive) - Tired of shooting things but still want to take out your aggression on a song? Soundboxing is a VR music video kickboxing game that lets you pick any track from a Youtube playlist and turn it into a game. The harder and more accurate your punches, the more points you'll earn. Best of all, enter a co-op multiplayer mode by sharing a web link to your SoundBoxing song of choice and compete for the top position on a public leaderboard.
Audioshield (HTC Vive) - This rhythm game from 2016 lets players generate levels from their own music library. Deflect incoming musical notes with shields and time your blocks by aligning with the rhythm of the music. Audioshield can be a great workout, but critics have said that it loses replay value after a while due to the simplicity of the graphics.
VR DAWs for Musicians
I know there are some musicians reading this article that skipped right past the games to learn more about VR DAWs. But for those of you not familiar, digital audio workstations (DAWs) are a class of software that let music producers create, mix, and edit their music. While there are a number of traditional DAWs on the market, VR DAWs are beginning to emerge as a viable option for those looking for a more immersive experience.
Here are some of the best VR DAWs for musicians
Virtuoso VR (Meta Quest, Steam, Oculus Rift) - Virtuoso introduces a new way to think about MIDI performance and songwriting. Move your beat making workflows into 3D space, with trigger pads shaped like cubes. Use the touch controller to target and play any of the instruments in your environment. Best of all, the app lets you record and save the music you make to your local computer. You can even share a link to your song for others to enjoy!
LyraVR (Oculus Rift, Meta Quest) - Virtuoso is a visually rich space, which means it can also feel a bit busy at times. That’s why some users prefer LyraVR's dreamy ambient color fields instead. The pleasant background and intuitive interface lets you pick from different sound banks, assign them to otherworldly instruments, control audio filters and even record original music in real-time.
Instrument Studio VR - Take your jam session into a pleasant outdoor setting with one of the first ever virtual recording studios. Where the majority of VR DAWs lean into the futurist aesthetic, this app brings things back down to earth.
Choose from a variety of realistic drums, guitars, pianos, synthesizers and pianos. It includes a desk where you can record to a metronome and create loops with a drum machine. Dynamic haptics in your touch controller give you the feeling that you’re really there, with control over subtleties like volume and expression. Enter compose mode and record your music to share it with the world!
SoundStage (Oculus Quest) - One of the earliest VR DAWs on Steam, SoundStage was designed with the user experience in mind. The interface is easy to navigate, and the sound quality is top-notch. Beginners love this app because it strips away the complexity of conventional DAWs and lets you focus on simply creating music.
SynthVR (Oculus Rift, PSVR) - Unlike a traditional DAW, SynthVR focuses on real-time music composition with modular synthesizers. Based on the Eurorack standard, you’ll have access to studio-quality synth modules like oscillators, sequencers, and effects. Record and share you performances with other people.
SYNTHSPACE - Set in a cozy music studio environment, this virtual synthesizer workspace includes a MIDI keyboard hooked up to more than 40 synth modules. The app takes you through each component of the DAW, step by step, until you’re comfortable navigating all of the interfaces.
Electronauts (PSVR, Oculus Quest) - This may be the best VR DAW for absolute beginners. You'll gain experience making music in a daw, performing on instruments, and blending sonic elements together. But unlike the other apps, Electronauts curates your samples carefully, so it's difficult to play a bad note.
DAWs for Creating Spatial Audio
Audiokinetic Wwise (MacOS, Windows, Linux) - WWise is a standard DAW used to create immersive sonic environments in virtual environments. Celebrated by some of the biggest names in the video game music industry, this is one of the best ways to create interactive soundscapes for VR games.
Steiner’s Nuendo 12 - Nuendo was the one of the first applications to publish a complete feature set for VR content authoring. Seated in the same camp as Wwise, Reaper and other DAWs that support spatial audio engineering, MusicTech has considers it to be a major contender to Pro Tools, due to the powerful set of features it offers.
Conclusion
Virtual reality is still in its early days, but the potential for music producers is evident. With the right hardware and software, people can create entire tracks in VR or perform live for an audience of avatars.
In the coming years, we’re likely to see even more immersive and realistic VR experiences for music lovers. So whether you’re a producer looking for a new way to make beats, or a fan who wants to experience your favorite artist in a whole new way, keep your eye on the virtual horizon.