Gang Beasts, developed by indie studio Boneloaf, is a vibrant party game that has captured the attention of gamers with its wacky physics and gelatinous characters. Set in the fictional metropolis of Beef City, players engage in hilarious brawls where the primary goal is to knock opponents out of various hazardous arenas. Mastery of the game’s controls is essential to become the last one standing in this blend of chaos and tactics.
Understanding the keyboard controls is crucial for PC players to maneuver their characters effectively. While the basic controls seem simple, combining them allows for complex maneuvers, giving an edge in combat. The game supports both keyboard and controller inputs, and knowing how to execute moves like grabs, kicks, punches, and lifts can greatly influence the outcome of each match.
Complete Gang Beasts Keyboard Controls Guide
Gang Beasts is chaotic, hilarious, and sometimes downright confusing—especially if you’re just mashing keys and hoping to land a punch. But once you actually know what each key does, the real fun begins. With a little knowledge and practice, you’ll go from floppy fool to rooftop champion. Below is the most complete and up-to-date guide to every essential keyboard control in Gang Beasts, including tips on how to use them effectively in matches.
Core Movement Controls
Let’s start with the basics. These are your bread-and-butter keys that dictate how you move, dodge, and jump your way through a match.
- W: Move Up
- A: Move Left
- S: Move Down
- D: Move Right
- Spacebar: Jump (Hold to run while moving)
- Left Ctrl: Duck/Crawl (useful for dodging or sneaky plays)
Pro Tip:
Hold Spacebar while moving to run, then let go and immediately jump for more height. This is great for hopping over obstacles or launching surprise attacks.
Combat and Attack Controls
Combat in Gang Beasts isn’t about button mashing—it’s about timing and positioning. Here’s what each attack key does and how to combine them.
- Comma (,): Left Punch/Grab
- Period (.): Right Punch/Grab
- Left Ctrl: Headbutt (quick and effective at close range)
- M: Kick (especially effective when timed as someone climbs up)
- Shift: Lift (must be holding an enemy or object to lift)
How to Throw an Opponent
- Press and hold Comma and Period to grab with both hands.
- Press Shift to lift them.
- Move your mouse or directional keys to aim.
- Release Comma and Period to throw.
This move is essential for winning rounds—especially in maps like the blimp or incinerator, where ring-outs are everything.
Advanced Moves
Mastering these will give you a serious edge. These aren’t immediately obvious but can completely shift the momentum of a match when used well.
- Climb: Hold Comma and Period near a ledge or wall, then press Spacebar
- Leap Climb: Same as climb, but double-tap Spacebar for a burst upwards
- Dropkick: Jump with Spacebar, then hold M in mid-air
- Running Dropkick: Hold Spacebar to run, jump, then hit M
- Handstand: Hold Ctrl, then both grab buttons (, + .), then tap Spacebar
- Zombie Waddle: Hold Ctrl + M while moving to make your character do the signature limp run
Pro Strategy:
Use dropkicks when your opponent is near a ledge. They’re surprisingly powerful, and if you land one clean, you can launch enemies straight off the map. Be careful though—they leave you vulnerable if you miss.
Camera & Interface Controls
These don’t affect gameplay directly, but knowing them helps when spectating or keeping track of action.
- Q (Hold): Show/Hide player name tags
- Tab (Hold): Show the scoreboard
- Arrow Keys: Change camera angles
- Comma / Period: Cycle through players while spectating
- Esc: Pause/Menu
Tips for Keyboard Warriors
- Use headphones to listen for subtle audio cues like enemies climbing behind you or train horns on maps like Subway.
- Don’t just mash keys. Learn to grab, lift, and toss in one fluid motion—it’s the difference between surviving and getting flung into a grinder.
- In team games, communication is everything. Focus on double-teams and isolation tactics.
- Gang Beasts supports local multiplayer on one keyboard, but it gets cramped fast. Two players max is ideal if you’re sharing keys.
Custom Keybinds
If the default keys don’t work for you (for example, if you use a non-QWERTY layout), Gang Beasts does allow for custom keybinds in the settings menu. Rebinding Grab and Jump to mouse buttons can help if you prefer more precise control over attacks and movement. Just be sure to test them out in local mode before going online.
Conclusion
Gang Beasts might look like a goofy party game on the surface, but there’s a surprising amount of depth once you understand the controls. Mastering grabs, lifts, and timing your throws can give you the edge in any chaotic brawl. Whether you’re swinging from a billboard or dropkicking someone into an incinerator, keyboard players have all the tools they need to dominate the arena.
Key Takeaways
- Gang Beasts offers a chaotic and tactical party game experience.
- Mastering keyboard controls is essential for effective gameplay.
- The game supports multiple input methods and complex maneuvers.
Keyboard and Controller Basics
The right setup in ‘Gang Beasts’ can make the difference between flailing on the ground and reigning as the last one standing.
Understanding PC Controls
PC players use the keyboard for all moves with ‘WASD’ for movement and arrows for additional actions. For moves like punch or grab, ‘Ctrl’ and ‘Shift’ are essential, while jumps rely on the ‘Space’ bar. Customization is a breeze in the settings, letting players tailor controls to their comfort.
Mastering Console Commands
Console gamers utilize a gamepad with the layout varying slightly by platform. On Xbox, ‘A’ is for jump and ‘X’ for kick. PlayStation users will find ‘X’ for jumping and ‘Square’ for kicking. Nintendo Switch players use ‘B’ to jump and ‘A’ for a kick. Both ‘LB/RB’ or ‘L1/R1’ handle punches and grabs on all consoles. Players can customize these bindings to better suit their playstyle.
Advanced Techniques and Combos
Master advanced moves to outmaneuver your opponents. For example, a running headbutt on PC needs a sprint using ‘Shift’, then ‘Ctrl’ to launch headfirst. Console commands mimic this with a hold of the ‘Run’ button, followed by the respective ‘Headbutt’ button. Combos, such as grab followed by throw or lift, can turn the tide of a match. Timing and practice will improve your skill with these advanced techniques.
