God of War 3 PC Keyboard Controls and Controller Setup

What are the default keyboard and mouse controls?

These defaults apply when starting through the launcher. Launching the game without its saved mapping can use different keys.

Key or mouse input	Game button or action
WASD	Left stick
Arrow keys	Right stick, including camera input
Space	Cross
Left Shift	Circle
Left click	Square
Right click	Triangle
Q and E	L1 and R1
R and mouse forward button	L2 and R2
Z and X	L3 and R3
Wheel click	Rage of Sparta, L3 + R3
C	Grab, L1 + Circle
Mouse back button	Dodge
1, 2, 3, 4	D-pad up, right, down, left
Tab	Options
P	Left touchpad click, photo mode
Esc	Right touchpad click, pause menu
Insert	Port menu

Rage of Sparta on one input is enabled by default and leaves the separate Z and X inputs unused. Turn that option off if you want separate L3 and R3 inputs.

How do I remap a key, mouse button or controller button?

1. Open Controls.
2. Under Device, choose Keyboard & mouse to show Keyboard & Mouse Mapping.
3. Click the input box beside the game button you want to change.
4. Press the key, click the mouse button or turn the wheel you want to use. If another button already uses that input, the two assignments swap.
5. Click Save.
6. Start the game again to apply the mapping.

Use the return arrow beside a row to restore that button's default, or Reset keyboard & mouse to defaults to reset the table. The table remaps button inputs; use the fixed movement and camera directions above. Insert remains reserved for the port menu.

Can I aim the camera with the mouse or answer rotation prompts?

Yes, in L2 aiming mode. Hold L2, R by default, to aim with the mouse. Right stick style → Relative follows mouse movement and returns to neutral when movement stops. Absolute uses the mouse position when you pressed L2 as the center. Right stick sensitivity controls how much movement is needed. Use the arrow keys for right-stick input outside that aiming mode.

For stick-rotation quick-time prompts, set Joystick prompts to Keyboard (native) or Adaptive mouse (experimental). With the keyboard, type the turn in order: half turns use D S A, A S D, A W D or D W A; full turns use D S A W or A S D W. A key out of order restarts the sequence. With Adaptive mouse (experimental), draw the rotation.

The mouse stays inside the game window while playing. The port menu, Esc pause and switching windows release it; pressing Esc again or clicking the game takes it back.

How do I open pause, photo mode and the port menu?

The port supports DualSense, Xbox and other controllers through SDL3. In Controls, choose Device → Gamepad to show Gamepad Mapping. Choose Controller type so the mapping labels match, then select the input beside each remappable game button. Click Save and start the game again. L2 and R2 stay on the triggers.

On an Xbox controller, View opens the pause menu and L1 + View opens photo mode. DualSense touchpad clicks work as on PS4; Share/Create acts like View. R3 + L2 always opens the port menu. Use Q/E or L1/R1 to switch its tabs.

In the save list, arrows or the D-pad select, Enter or Cross confirms, and Esc or Circle cancels.

How do I show Xbox, Nintendo or keyboard prompts?

Under Controls → In-game button icons, choose Keyboard, Xbox, Nintendo or Match my controller, then click Save and restart the game. Match my controller uses keyboard prompts when no gamepad is connected. Restart after connecting a different controller so the prompts pick it up.

Keyboard prompts follow your saved mapping on the next start. Prompt replacement is optional and off by default. Xbox and Nintendo styles also show the matching controller drawing in the pause menu. Keyboard and Original styles keep the PlayStation drawing.

If an input sequence stops responding only at a high frame rate, use the 60 FPS troubleshooting step.

Which keys do I use for Dodge and Rage of Sparta?

Press the mouse back button for Dodge. It follows your current WASD movement direction; standing still makes it dodge backward. Remap the Dodge row if your mouse lacks that button.

Press the mouse wheel for Rage of Sparta with Rage of Sparta on one input enabled. To use separate L3 and R3 inputs instead, turn that option off and use their mapped keys, Z and X by default. Grab, C by default, sends L1 + Circle together.

How do I change vibration or fix missing controller inputs?

Under Controls, select Device → Gamepad and set Vibration from 0% to 100%. Choose 0% to turn it off, save and start the game again.

For a missing or wrong input, check the active device, Controller type and Gamepad Mapping, then save and restart. A new controller's prompts are picked up after a restart. For a Steam Deck Bluetooth controller that stays inactive, include the model, connection type and log in a report. Include a double-press or polling-rate symptom if it occurs.

Can QTEs be automatic, and what if one still blocks progress?

Yes. Open the port menu with Insert or R3 + L2, then use Game → Cheats → Automatic QTE. It starts off and can be toggled during play. It answers supported single, repeated, held and stick-rotation prompts.

Complete the Circle inputs in the affected part of the Poseidon fight manually; those use the move system. If a prompt type stays manual, use its displayed input and keep the log's ready-prompt count for a report.

For a high-engine-rate input blocker, press F9 or R3 + L1 + R1 until the notice shows 60 FPS. The live cycle is 60, 100, 120, 144, 180, 240. Retry, then switch back afterward. If it remains blocked at 60 with the correct mapping, send the exact prompt, location, input device and log through Troubleshooting.