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Starsand Island supports keyboard and mouse as well as controller input. All keybindings are remappable through the in-game settings menu, though some limitations exist during Early Access (see Remapping below). Controller users get additional options for rumble intensity, per-axis camera sensitivity, gyroscope controls, and auto-aim. There is no dedicated dodge or roll mechanic; players avoid attacks by strafing and circling enemies.
Key | Action |
|---|---|
W / A / S / D | Move forward / left / backward / right |
Left Shift | Sprint (hold to run faster) |
Left Ctrl | Toggle walk/run speed |
Space | Jump |
Key | Action |
|---|---|
Esc | Back / open settings menu |
Tab | Open phone menu (main menu hub) |
B | Open bag (inventory / backpack) |
M | Open map |
J | Open journal / quest log |
C | Enter build mode (on your farm) |
R | Open garage (summon vehicles and mounts) |
P | Enter photo mode |
V | Show quest navigation marker |
E | Open emotes wheel / switch right |
Q | Switch left |
Right Alt | Open tool wheel / enter toolbar |
Input | Action |
|---|---|
F | Interact with objects, NPCs, and stations |
Left Click | Use equipped tool or item |
Hold Left Click | Charged strike (stronger hit with wider area) |
Right Click | Switch targets / open backpack submenu |
Mouse Wheel | Scroll through quickbar items / zoom |
Z | Put away held item |
1 through 0 | Select quickbar slot directly |
Alt + Mouse Wheel | Swap between the two hotbar rows |
Input | Action |
|---|---|
Mouse | Aim (crosshair at center of screen) |
Left Click | Fire projectile |
Hold Left Click | Charged shot (release for increased damage) |
Right Click | Switch ammo type (Simple Pellets, Bomb Pellets, etc.) |
Input | Action |
|---|---|
Hold Left Click | Aim cast (longer hold = further cast); also reel in while hooked |
Release Left Click | Release the line into the water; relax tension when line is red |
The fishing minigame requires alternating between reeling (hold) and releasing (let go) based on line color. White means safe to reel. Red means stop or the line snaps. This rhythm of hold, release, hold is the core fishing mechanic.
Input | Action |
|---|---|
W / A / S / D | Move while riding |
Mouse | Adjust camera angle |
Space | Jump (while on skateboard) |
Left Click | Mount / dismount vehicle |
Shift | Speed boost (during Offshore Racing events) |
Skateboards handle Parkour Puzzles better than the standard jump. Players report they work well for platforming sections due to the skateboard jump's height and distance.
Input | Action |
|---|---|
C | Enter build mode (must be on your farm) |
Click item, then X | Pick up / remove placed furniture |
Input | Action |
|---|---|
P | Enter photo mode |
Tab | Hide UI (removes camera lens and HUD for clean screenshots) |
Xbox controllers are fully supported with on-screen button prompts that update automatically. Many buttons are context-sensitive: they change function depending on whether you are exploring, in combat, fishing, or using a menu.
Input | Action |
|---|---|
Left Stick | Move |
Right Stick | Camera / aim |
Left Stick Press (L3) | Switch targets |
Right Stick Press (R3) | Show quest navigation marker |
A | Interact / select |
B | Jump / back |
X | Put away item |
Y | Open phone menu |
LT (Left Trigger) | Use tool or item / open emotes wheel (hold + stick to select) |
RT (Right Trigger) | Run / sprint |
LB (Left Bumper) | Open tool wheel / enter toolbar |
RB (Right Bumper) | Switch targets |
D-Pad Up | Open bag (inventory) |
D-Pad Right | Open settings menu |
D-Pad Down | Open garage (vehicles and mounts) |
D-Pad Left | Enter photo mode |
View Button (two squares) | Open map |
Menu Button (three lines) | Settings / save and exit |
When using a Slingshot or bow, the controller switches to combat mode with different button functions:
Input | Action |
|---|---|
RT (Right Trigger) | Fire / shoot |
Hold RT | Charged shot (release for increased damage) |
A | Switch ammo type |
Input | Action |
|---|---|
LB + D-Pad Left / Right | Switch between hotbar items |
LB + D-Pad Down | Switch between the two hotbar rows |
Input | Action |
|---|---|
D-Pad Left | Enter photo mode (from normal gameplay) |
Y | Hide UI in photo mode |
PlayStation controllers work through Steam Input but display Xbox button labels. This is a known cosmetic issue; button positions are mapped correctly (Cross acts as A, Circle as B, etc.). Third-party controllers require Steam Input to be enabled in Steam settings. The GuliKit ES Pro and Elves 2 controllers have special editions created in collaboration with the game. PS5 vibration feedback is supported (added in patch 0.3.2537 for fish harvesting).
The following controller-specific settings are available in the options menu:
Rumble intensity adjustment
Separate X-axis and Y-axis camera sensitivity
Aim mode sensitivity (separate from normal camera sensitivity)
Gyroscope sensitivity controls (pitch, yaw, roll)
Auto-aim toggle
Y-axis and X-axis inversion options
All keyboard, mouse, and controller bindings can be changed through the in-game settings menu. Movement, interaction, navigation, vehicle access, photo mode, build mode, and combat controls are all individually configurable. However, during Early Access, remapping has some known limitations:
WASD movement keys cannot be rebound through the in-game menu.
Some remapped keys have caused overlapping functions and bugs, especially on controller.
Patch 0.3.3595 fixed abnormal key remapping behavior for the Map and Quest buttons.
Patch 0.3.3595 also fixed an issue where fishing rods and projectile tools could not be used after remapping.
Workarounds for WASD rebinding include Steam Input remapping, AutoHotkey, or programmable keyboards.
A few controls that are easy to miss:
Alt + Mouse Wheel swaps between two hotbar rows. Most players do not discover this until hours into the game.
Right Click switches Slingshot ammo types. Without this, you might not realize you can swap between Simple Pellets and Bomb Pellets mid-fight.
Left Ctrl toggles walk/run speed. This is critical for bug catching. Insects flee when you run toward them; toggle to walking speed to sneak up.
B opens the bag directly without going through the phone menu. Much faster for inventory checks.
V shows the quest navigation marker, pointing you toward your current objective.
Z puts away your held item, freeing your hands.
Tool-specific button prompts appear above the hotbar when a tool is equipped, showing contextual actions.
On controller, LB + D-Pad Down is the only way to switch hotbar rows. There is no single-button shortcut for this.
Jumping feels inconsistent in some areas, with reports of invisible walls mid-air during platforming.
No dedicated single-button map shortcut on controller (keyboard has M; controller requires the View button or navigating through the phone menu).
PlayStation controllers show Xbox button labels regardless of controller brand.
Default controller sensitivity for Slingshot aiming is too high for most players. Try lowering it to 30 to 40 in the controller settings.
Some Steam Deck users report only joysticks working initially. Enabling Steam Input in Steam settings resolves this. The Steam Deck LCD hotkey is LB + D-Pad Up.
WASD cannot be rebound through the in-game menu. Use Steam Input or external tools as a workaround.
Breeding and Genetics
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