Crude Oil Controls Guide: Master Your Movement

Default Keyboard and Mouse Controls

Understanding the default control scheme is your first step to survival in Crude Oil. The game is designed for fast, fluid movement, and the default binds reflect that.

• WASD: Move your oil blob in four directions.
• Mouse Movement: Aim your trajectory for jumps and slides.
• Left Click: Perform a basic attack or interact with objects.
• Right Click: Charge a powerful slam attack (unlocked after the first upgrade).
• Spacebar: Jump. Hold to charge a higher jump.
• Shift: Sprint or perform a quick dash (consumes a small amount of oil).
• E: Interact with machinery, levers, or vehicles.
• Q: Drop a small oil puddle to slow down pursuers.
• Tab: Open the in-game upgrade menu.
• Esc: Pause the game and access settings.

For new players, we recommend starting with the beginner guide to get comfortable with these fundamentals.

Controller Support and Layout

Crude Oil offers full controller support for both PC and Mac. The layout is optimized for Xbox and PlayStation controllers.

• Left Stick: Move your blob.
• Right Stick: Aim attacks and camera control.
• A (Xbox) / X (PlayStation): Jump.
• B (Xbox) / Circle (PlayStation): Dash / Sprint.
• X (Xbox) / Square (PlayStation): Interact.
• Y (Xbox) / Triangle (PlayStation): Drop oil puddle.
• RT: Basic attack.
• LT: Charge slam.
• Start: Pause menu.
• Back/Select: Upgrade menu.

Controller vibration is supported and provides feedback when you absorb oil or take damage. You can adjust vibration intensity in the settings guide.

Advanced Movement Techniques

Once you have the basics down, mastering advanced movement is key to evading the relentless oil company.

Charged Jump

Hold the jump button to build up power. A fully charged jump launches you much higher and farther, allowing you to reach elevated platforms or escape tight corners.

Slide and Momentum

While sprinting, press the crouch key (default: Left Ctrl) to slide. Sliding preserves your momentum and lets you squeeze under obstacles. Combine a slide with a jump for a long-distance leap.

Wall Bounce

If you jump into a wall at an angle, you can bounce off it. Time your next jump immediately after the bounce to chain wall jumps and reach vertical areas.

Oil Trail

Using your oil puddle (Q button) creates a slippery surface. Enemies that step on it will slip and slow down. You can also slide over your own oil to gain a speed boost.

For a deeper dive into movement mechanics, check out our mechanics guide.

Remapping Controls to Your Preference

Crude Oil provides complete freedom to remap every action. Here is how to customize your controls:

1. From the main menu, select Settings.
2. Navigate to the Controls tab.
3. Click on the action you want to change (e.g., "Jump").
4. Press the new key or button on your keyboard/controller.
5. Confirm the change. You can reset to defaults at any time.

Controls for Vehicles and Machinery

Later in the game, you will gain the ability to control heavy machinery. Vehicle controls differ slightly from your blob form.

• W/S: Accelerate and reverse.
• A/D: Steer left and right.
• Spacebar: Handbrake (for sharp turns).
• Left Click: Activate vehicle weapon or tool (e.g., a crusher or vacuum).
• E: Exit the vehicle.

Mastering vehicle controls is essential for certain boss fights. Practice in the open areas before engaging enemies.

Troubleshooting Common Control Issues

If your controls feel unresponsive or strange, try these fixes:

• Check your input device: Ensure your controller is properly connected and recognized by Steam.
• Reset to defaults: Sometimes custom binds cause conflicts. Reset and reapply one change at a time.
• Adjust sensitivity: In the settings, you can change mouse and stick sensitivity independently.
• Update drivers: Outdated controller drivers can cause input lag.

For more help, visit our troubleshooting guide.