Controls & Input

Pass the Fear is built around twin-stick shooting: you move independently from where you aim, which is essential when bullet patterns fill the screen and demons close in from every angle. Whether you play on keyboard and mouse or a gamepad, the same philosophy applies — keep moving, keep firing, and use your dodge at the right moment. This page covers every default binding, remapping options, and the small habits that separate a clean island escape from a dawn wipe.

Twin-stick basics

In a top-down roguelite like Pass the Fear, your character always faces the direction you aim. Movement does not rotate your hunter automatically; your weapon barrel follows the aim vector instead. That separation is what makes kiting possible: you can strafe sideways while pouring fire into a boss weak point, or retreat while holding a narrow corridor.

On keyboard and mouse, movement uses WASD (or arrow keys if you prefer). The mouse cursor sets your aim direction, and left click fires your primary weapon. Holding fire is supported for automatic weapons and sustained beam-style barrels. Right click or Space typically triggers your dodge or burst movement ability, depending on character talent — check your in-run talent panel if a binding feels swapped after a relic upgrade.

On controller, the layout follows classic twin-stick norms: left stick moves, right stick aims and sets fire direction. Right trigger (R2 / RT) fires continuously while held. Right bumper (R1 / RB) is often mapped to dodge or a secondary skill. Shoulder buttons may also swap weapons or activate tarot abilities once you unlock them mid-run.

Combat and interaction

Beyond shooting, you will constantly interact with the island’s economy of fear. E or A / Cross picks up relics, opens chests, and confirms dialogue at shrines. Tab or Select / View opens the inventory overlay where you manage your ten relic slots and two weapon configurations. Q and 1–4 (or D-pad directions) can quick-swap active weapon parts when you have multiple barrels attached.

Co-op players should learn the ping and trade inputs early. Default keyboard ping is often middle mouse or G; on controller it is usually D-pad up. Item trading uses a dedicated prompt when standing near a teammate — see our co-op guide and team roles page for how trading interacts with aggro and revive timing.

Menus, pause, and UI navigation

Esc or Start pauses a solo run and opens the system menu. In co-op, pause behavior may sync across the lobby depending on host settings — communicate before opening menus during a wave. Arrow keys and Enter navigate hub menus between runs; controller users use D-pad and A / Cross.

The map overlay (M on keyboard, often touchpad / Select on DualSense) shows the twelve-hour clock, exit routes, and teammate positions in multiplayer. Learning to glance at the map without stopping movement is a skill worth practicing in safer early zones before storm phases tighten.

Rebinding and accessibility

Open Settings → Controls from the main menu or pause screen to remapping every action. Pass the Fear stores bindings per input device, so keyboard changes do not overwrite controller layouts. Useful accessibility tweaks include:

• Toggle dodge instead of hold, reducing strain during long co-op sessions.
• Aim assist strength for controller — subtle magnetism helps right-stick precision without removing skill expression.
• Screen shake and flash intensity sliders for players sensitive to bullet-hell visual noise.
• Hold to sprint vs toggle for movement on keyboard.

If you are learning the game, start with keyboard and mouse for precise aim on bullet-heavy bosses, then experiment with controller once you understand dodge i-frames. Our getting started guide walks through your first hour with these inputs in mind.

Co-op–specific controls

In four-player online co-op, revives, item drops, and aggro swaps add extra inputs on top of twin-stick combat. Standing on a downed ally and holding the interact key begins a revive channel; taking damage cancels it, so cover matters. Trading opens a radial menu: move the stick or mouse to offer a relic, weapon part, or consumable. DPS and aggro indicators are UI-only — no extra buttons — but knowing where they live on the HUD helps tanks pull enemies off squishy builders.

Voice chat is platform-side (Steam overlay or Discord); the game does not replace external comms. For performance-sensitive players, see system requirements before cranking particle density in four-player storm fights.

Quick reference table

Action	Keyboard / mouse	Controller (default)
Move	WASD	Left stick
Aim	Mouse	Right stick
Fire	Left click	RT / R2
Dodge	Space / RMB	RB / R1
Interact	E	A / Cross
Inventory	Tab	View / Select
Map	M	Touchpad / Select
Ping (co-op)	G / MMB	D-pad up

Master these bindings before chasing high-tier affix synergies — the best build in the world still fails if you cannot dodge and reload under pressure. After launch, check launch notes for any control patches or new remapping options.