Pink Slip Hearts Controls Guide: Keyboard, Mouse & More

Understanding the Control Scheme

Pink Slip Hearts is a narrative-driven visual novel where your choices as a CPO determine the fate of your career and relationships. Unlike action games, the controls focus on navigation, dialogue selection, and menu management. This guide covers every input method available on PC, Mac, and Linux.

The game is designed for single-player interaction, with a simple point-and-click interface that supports both mouse and keyboard inputs. You can switch between them at any time without pausing.

Mouse Controls

Mouse controls are the primary way to interact with Pink Slip Hearts. The cursor changes contextually to indicate clickable elements.

Action	Mouse Input
Advance dialogue	Left click
Select dialogue option	Left click on choice
Open menu	Right click
Skip text	Hold left click
Auto-play	Click the auto icon in the bottom bar
Save/Load	Click the save/load icon
View backlog	Click the log icon

The mouse wheel can also be used to scroll through the backlog or zoom in on character portraits during intimate scenes.

Keyboard Controls

Keyboard shortcuts offer faster navigation for experienced players. All keys are remappable in the settings menu under "Controls."

Key	Action
Enter / Space	Advance dialogue
Esc	Open/Close menu
Ctrl	Skip text (hold)
A	Auto-play toggle
S	Quick save
L	Quick load
F	Fullscreen toggle
Tab	Show character name and dialogue history

Controller Support

Pink Slip Hearts supports Xbox, PlayStation, and generic gamepads. Connect your controller before launching the game for automatic detection.

Button	Action
A (Xbox) / Cross (PS)	Advance dialogue / Confirm
B (Xbox) / Circle (PS)	Back / Cancel
Start / Options	Open menu
Select / Touchpad	Quick save
Left stick	Navigate menu options
D-pad	Scroll through dialogue history

Menu and UI Navigation

The game interface is divided into several key areas. Understanding each one will streamline your experience.

Dialogue Box: Located at the bottom of the screen. It displays character portraits, names, and text. Click anywhere on the box to advance.

Choice Panel: Appears during key story moments. Choices are displayed as vertical buttons. Use mouse or keyboard arrows to highlight, then confirm.

Top Bar: Shows your relationship status with each of the three women, current chapter, and in-game time. This bar is always visible.

Save/Load Screen: Accessible from the menu. You have 50 save slots. Each slot shows a screenshot and timestamp.

Advanced Controls and Tips

For players looking to optimize their playthrough, these advanced controls can save time and enhance immersion.

• Text Skip: Hold Ctrl to skip already-read text. The game marks text as "read" after you see it once. Use this to fast-forward through repeated scenes.

• Auto-Play: Press A to enable auto-play. Text advances automatically at a speed you set in Settings > Text Speed. Ideal for hands-free viewing.

• Dialogue History: Press Tab or click the log icon to review past conversations. This is useful for recalling important clues or character backstories.

• Bind quick save to a comfortable key (default: S)

• Adjust text speed in Settings for auto-play

• Use backlog to revisit critical choices

• Remap controls if default layout feels awkward

How do I change the control layout? Go to Settings > Controls. You can rebind keyboard keys and adjust mouse sensitivity. Controller button mapping is fixed but supported natively.

Can I use a controller and keyboard simultaneously? Yes. The game accepts input from both devices at the same time. You can switch between them during gameplay without any configuration.