Controls — RimWorld Guide

RimWorld Controls Guide: Master PC controls with mouse and keyboard shortcuts. Efficiently manage your colony, direct combat, and navigate the map.

Navigating the complex world of RimWorld efficiently requires a solid understanding of its control scheme. Whether you're managing your colonists' tasks, directing combat, or simply exploring the map, knowing the keybinds and interface elements will significantly streamline your gameplay. This guide covers the essential controls for PC players, ensuring you can manage your colony with precision and speed.

RimWorld utilizes a combination of mouse-based interaction and keyboard shortcuts to provide a flexible control experience. The game's interface is designed to be intuitive, with most common actions accessible through on-screen buttons or hotkeys. Mastering these controls will allow you to react quickly to events, manage your colonists' schedules, and build your base without unnecessary delays.

Here are the essential controls:

• Mouse:
  • Left Click: Select units, interact with menus, place buildings, issue commands.
  • Right Click: Cancel actions, open context menus, move units to a specific location (hold for 'go here' command).
  • Scroll Wheel: Zoom in and out of the map.
• Keyboard Shortcuts (Hotkeys):
  • Arrow Keys / WASD: Pan the camera across the map.
  • Spacebar: Pause or unpause the game.
  • 1, 2, 3, etc.: Quickly select different colonist groups or important buildings (customizable).
  • Tab: Cycle through colonists.
  • C: Open the 'Construction' menu.
  • B: Open the 'Buildings' menu.
  • F: Open the 'Food' menu.
  • R: Open the 'Research' menu.
  • T: Open the 'Trading' menu.
  • P: Open the 'Priorities' menu.
  • I: Open the 'Inventory' menu.
  • Z: Toggle 'Zone' creation.
  • M: Open the 'Map' overview.
  • Ctrl + Number: Ass a colonist or group to a number for quick selection.
  • Shift: Hold while clicking to queue multiple actions for a colonist.
• Interface Elements:
  • Top Bar: Displays time, speed controls, colonist mood, resources, and notifications.
  • Bottom Bar: Contains menus for construction, research, trading, and other core functions.
  • Colonist Bar: Shows portraits of your colonists, their current status, and mood.
  • Notification Area: Alerts you to important events like raids, diseases, or colonist needs.

The 'Anomaly' DLC, like other DLCs, integrates seamlessly with the base game's controls. New items or mechanics introduced by the DLC will be accessible through the existing interface and command structures. Familiarizing yourself with these controls will make managing your colony, especially during intense moments like raids or dealing with anomalies, much smoother.