Into The Depths Controls Guide: Master the UI & Keybinds

Default Keybinds Overview

Mastering the controls in Into The Depths is essential for efficient colony management and survival in the treacherous underground. The game offers a comprehensive set of default keybindings designed to streamline your experience. Whether you are a new player just starting your journey or a seasoned explorer looking to optimize your workflow, understanding these controls is the first step toward success.

The default control scheme is optimized for mouse and keyboard. All keybindings can be customized in the settings menu. Below is a breakdown of the most critical controls you will use frequently.

Movement and Camera Controls

• WASD: Move the camera across the underground map.
• Mouse Wheel: Zoom in and out to view your colony or explore distant caverns.
• Middle Mouse Button: Hold and drag to pan the camera smoothly.
• Q / E: Rotate the camera view (useful for planning building layouts).

Selection and Interaction

• Left Mouse Click: Select a unit, building, or tile.
• Right Mouse Click: Issue a move or action command to selected units.
• Double Left Click: Select all units of the same type on the screen.
• Escape: Cancel current selection or close an open menu.

Building and Management Controls

Efficient construction and resource management are at the heart of Into The Depths. The game provides hotkeys to speed up these processes, allowing you to focus on exploration and defense.

Construction Hotkeys

• B: Open the building menu.
• R: Rotate the building blueprint before placement.
• F: Toggle the resource overlay to view available materials.
• V: Open the upgrade menu for selected structures.

Unit and Colonist Management

• 1-4: Select control groups (assign units with Ctrl + 1-4).
• Tab: Cycle through idle colonists or units.
• Space: Center the camera on the last alert or event.
• H: Hold position for selected military units.
• A: Attack-move command for selected units.

UI Navigation and Menus

Navigating the various menus and overlays is crucial for monitoring your colony's health, resources, and research progress. Here are the essential UI controls.

Overlay and Information Toggles

• M: Open the full map of the explored underground.
• J: Open the journal or quest log.
• L: Toggle the resource list panel.
• K: Open the technology and research tree.
• C: Open the character or colonist details screen.
• I: Open the inventory and equipment menu.

Game Speed and Pause

• Space: Pause and unpause the game.
• + / -: Increase or decrease game speed.
• Backspace: Return to normal game speed.

Quick Save and Load

• F5: Quick save the current game.
• F8: Quick load the most recent save.

Advanced Controls and Shortcuts

For experienced players, mastering advanced controls can provide a significant edge in managing complex colonies and surviving deeper expeditions.

Multi-Select and Queuing

• Shift + Click: Add or remove units from current selection.
• Ctrl + Click: Select all units of a specific type on the map.
• Shift + Right Click: Queue multiple commands for a unit (e.g., move, then gather, then return).
• Alt + Right Click: Force attack a specific tile or structure.

Camera and View Customization

• Ctrl + Mouse Wheel: Adjust camera tilt angle.
• Home: Center camera on your main colony hub.
• End: Jump to the last explored area.
• F1-F4: Save camera bookmarks (Ctrl + F1-F4 to set).

Debug and Developer Controls These are available only if you enable the console in the settings.

• ~ (Tilde): Open the developer console.
• F12: Take a screenshot (Steam overlay also works).

Customizing Your Controls

Into The Depths offers full keybinding customization. You can remap almost every action to suit your playstyle. To access the controls menu, go to Settings > Controls.

How to Remap Keys

1. Open the main menu and select Settings.
2. Navigate to the Controls tab.
3. Click on the action you want to remap.
4. Press the new key or combination on your keyboard.
5. Confirm the change by pressing Apply.

Recommended Control Tweaks

• Zoom Sensitivity: Adjust in the camera settings for smoother zooming.
• Edge Scrolling: Enable or disable screen edge scrolling in the gameplay options.
• Mouse Speed: Change cursor sensitivity for more precise unit selection.

Troubleshooting Common Control Issues

Even with a solid understanding of the controls, you might encounter issues. Here are solutions to common problems.

Camera Not Moving

• Ensure the game window is active (click on the game screen).
• Check if you have accidentally toggled a UI element that blocks camera movement.
• Verify that edge scrolling is enabled in settings if you prefer that method.

Keybindings Not Working

• Restart the game after changing keybindings.
• Check for conflicts with other software (e.g., Discord, screen recorders).
• Reset to default settings in the controls menu.

Units Not Responding

• Ensure the unit is not currently stunned or incapacitated.
• Check if the unit has been assigned to a control group that is locked.
• Verify that you have sufficient resources for the command (e.g., building requires materials).

For more detailed troubleshooting, visit our Troubleshooting Guide. If issues persist, consult the Community Guide for player solutions.

Conclusion Mastering the controls in Into The Depths transforms your gameplay from a struggle for survival to a strategic conquest of the underground. Take time to practice these keybindings and customize them to fit your style. Efficient control of your colony, units, and camera will allow you to explore deeper, build faster, and defend against the horrors that lurk in the darkness.