What kind of game is Ivory Quest?

Ivory Quest is a free-to-play adventure, casual, and indie game focused on music reading practice, where players identify musical notes to cast spells and defeat monsters.

Are there 'builds' in Ivory Quest?

No, the concept of 'builds' as found in RPGs (skill trees, gear, stats) does not apply to Ivory Quest. It is an educational game focused on music learning.

How can I improve my performance in Ivory Quest?

You can improve by selecting appropriate clefs and modes, gradually increasing difficulty, using a MIDI keyboard for practice, and consistent engagement with the game.

Do I need a piano to play Ivory Quest?

No, you do not need to know how to play the piano. The game teaches note identification and can be played using on-screen letter buttons or a virtual piano keyboard. You can also connect a MIDI-compatible keyboard if you have one.

What platforms is Ivory Quest available on?

Ivory Quest is available on Steam (Windows), Mac App Store (macOS), and iOS (iPhone, iPad). An Android version is also coming soon.

Main Content

What is Ivory Quest?

"Ivory Quest" is an adventure, casual, and indie game released on March 15, 2026, developed and published by Caleb Kekoa Thompson. It transforms music reading practice into an engaging magical adventure, where players act as a wizard defending against monsters. The core gameplay involves identifying notes on the musical staff to cast spells; correctly identified notes banish enemies, while incorrect ones result in damage to the player. The game is free to play, with premium add-ons planned for future release.

Gameplay Modes and Features

Ivory Quest offers several features to facilitate music learning and practice:

Note Identification: The primary mechanic involves identifying individual notes as they appear on the musical staff.

Clef Selection: Players can choose to practice with Treble Clef, Bass Clef, or the Full Staff (C1–C8).

Chord Mode: Beyond individual notes, the game includes a Chord Mode where players identify chords using seven Roman numeral buttons. This mode also features inversion bonus scoring and MIDI chord detection.

Input Methods: Players can cast spells by pressing the correct key on a MIDI keyboard or by using the virtual keyboard or on-screen letter buttons (A–G). MIDI support is currently available on macOS and Windows (Steam), with iOS MIDI support planned for a future update.

Difficulty Settings: The game allows for increased difficulty, such as the "Black Notes Mode" where all notes appear black.

Scoring and Leaderboards: High scores are automatically saved, organized by mode and difficulty, and an in-game username leaderboard is available for competitive comparison.

Language Support: Ivory Quest supports eight languages, including English (A–G), German (A–H), Spanish (Do–Si), French (Do–Si), Portuguese (Do–Si), Japanese, Korean, and Chinese.

Note Colors: Each note has a unique color (C=Blue, D=Purple, E=Green, F=Orange, G=Yellow, A=Red, B=White) to aid in learning.

The Concept of 'Builds' in Ivory Quest

It is important to clarify that "Ivory Quest" is an educational music reading game, not a role-playing game (RPG) or a combat-focused title with character progression in the traditional sense. Therefore, the concept of a "best build," which typically refers to combinations of skills, gear, and stats to optimize a character's performance in combat or specific roles, does not apply to this game. There are no classes, skill trees, or equipment to customize for a "build" in Ivory Quest.

Optimizing Your Learning: Strategies and Settings

While traditional "builds" are absent, players can optimize their experience in Ivory Quest to maximize their music learning and sight-reading speed. This involves strategic use of the game's available settings and features:

Choose Your Mode and Clef Wisely: Beginners should start with a single clef (e.g., Treble Clef or Bass Clef) and gradually progress to the Full Staff. Chord Mode offers a more advanced challenge for those ready to identify harmonic structures.

Utilize MIDI Keyboards for Immersion: Connecting a MIDI-compatible keyboard via USB or Bluetooth can provide a more tactile and immersive learning experience, directly translating physical input to in-game actions.

Adjust Difficulty as You Progress: As note identification improves, players can increase the challenge by switching to "Black Notes Mode" to remove the helpful color-coding and rely solely on note position.

Consistent Practice: Regular engagement with the game's modes and challenges is key to improving sight-reading speed and note recognition. The in-game high scores and leaderboards can provide motivation for continuous improvement.

Explore Language Settings: For multilingual learners or those interested in different solmization systems, switching the language setting can offer a unique learning perspective.

Platform and Accessibility

Ivory Quest is available on Steam for Windows 10 or later, and on the Mac App Store for macOS 11 (Big Sur) or later (supporting Apple Silicon or Intel). An iOS version is available for iOS 16.6 or later on iPhone or iPad, with an optional Apple Watch companion app. An Android version is coming soon. The game is designed for anyone learning to read sheet music, typically ages 8 and up, and does not require prior piano experience.

Ivory Quest: Understanding Gameplay and Maximizing Your Music Learning Experience

Quick Summary