Mixed Beginner controlsHUD

Controls, HUD and the settings to check first

Crater Studios has confirmed keyboard and mouse, with controller support in progress. The screenshots give us more: a two-globe HUD, Q W E R T skill slots, two flasks, a Space key and an Oath button. Here is what is confirmed, what is inferred, and what to test before your first Rupture.

Updated 2026-11-06 8 min read Fact-checked 2026-11-06

The HUD, decoded from official screenshots

These are visible bindings, not a developer keybind list. The difference matters: a key can be shown in the HUD and still be rebindable, context-sensitive or changed before launch.

Observed interface elements
ElementWhat the screenshot showsConfidence
LifeLarge red globe, bottom-left; values such as 4,877 / 6,051 at level 70Observed
ManaLarge blue globe, bottom-right; values such as 900 / 900Observed
FlasksTwo slots labelled 1 and 2, red and blue, with charge pipsObserved
Movement keySpace is printed beside the flask keysObserved label; action not labelled
Skill barQ W E R T plus additional slots, each showing a gem icon and Lv 20 at endgameObserved
OathA separate button under the skill bar, labelled OathObserved label; function not explained
Passive treeCtrl+F search, right-click refund, drag pan, wheel zoom, Enter apply, K or Esc closeObserved
AttributesStr • Dex • Int in the top-right of the passive treeObserved

Settings to check before the first pack

No public screenshot of the settings menu exists, so we cannot list exact toggles. These are the categories that matter in an isometric ARPG and the order we would check them.

  1. Rebind the movement skill

    Put it somewhere your left hand can hold for two hours. If Space is a dodge, consider keeping it there and moving the skill bar closer to WASD.

  2. Turn on enemy health bars and damage numbers

    The screenshots show floating damage numbers and elite health bars. If either can be toggled, start with both on; you need the feedback to learn what your build is doing.

  3. Check loot label behaviour

    Look for a loot filter or at least a “show labels” key. In a randomised map, a clean screen is a defensive layer.

  4. Set the camera and zoom

    Isometric ARPGs live or die on how much of the pack you can see. Pull the camera back if the option exists; if not, note it as a launch limitation.

  5. Test controller support before committing

    The developer says most screens work on a pad, not all. If you plan to play on a controller, test inventory, passive tree and Forge before you build around it.

Keyboard and mouse: the safe default

The screenshots consistently show a mouse-driven isometric layout: click to move or attack, number keys for flasks, Q W E R T for skills. The passive tree screenshot confirms mouse interactions explicitly — left click to plan, right click to take back or refund, drag to pan, wheel to zoom.

  • Left click — allocate a planned passive node.
  • Right click — take back or refund a node. The screenshot says refunds cost 2 gold per node.
  • Drag — pan the passive tree.
  • Wheel — zoom the passive tree.
  • Enter — apply the planned tree.
  • K or Esc — close the passive tree.
  • Ctrl+F — search the passive tree.

Playtest-reported controls

Creators with playtest access describe a wider control set than the store does. None of this is in an official control list, so treat it as a lead to test, not a manual.

Creator-reported, November 2026
InputReportSource
WASD movementSupported alongside mouse movementSpanish overview; r/ARPG thread
PauseA pause button existsr/ARPG thread (unverified)
Build codesImport/export strings beginning BO1.Two creator videos
Skill barQ W E R T plus additional slots; eight active slots visibleOfficial screenshots
Passive treeCtrl+F search, right-click refund, drag pan, wheel zoom, Enter applyOfficial screenshot
ControllerMost screens work on a pad; full support in progressDeveloper statement

Accessibility: what we can and cannot say

Crater Studios has not published an accessibility menu. We will not invent one. At launch, check for: UI scale, colour-blind options, screen-shake reduction, damage-number toggles, hold-to-attack, and independent volume for music, effects and voice. The game’s mature content warning is general rather than specific.

  • Can the UI scale independently of resolution?
  • Can screen shake and flash effects be reduced?
  • Are enemy telegraphs distinguishable without relying on colour alone?
  • Can the controller remap every action, including flasks and the Oath button?
  • Does the game pause when the window loses focus in single-player?

Frequently asked questions

Does Broken Oath support controllers?
Partially, according to the developer. “Most screens already work on a pad”; full controller support and Steam Deck optimisation are planned during Early Access. Keyboard and mouse are the confirmed baseline.
What is the Oath button in the HUD?
The official screenshots show a dedicated Oath button under the skill bar. The developer has not explained its function. It is likely tied to the Blessings and Curses system (Vows), but that is an inference.
Can I rebind keys?
Not confirmed. No settings menu has been shown publicly. The store only confirms keyboard and mouse support.
Is there a Hardcore or permadeath mode?
Not announced. The Rupture HUD shows a limited number of lives per run, but that is a run-level counter, not a character-level permadeath mode.
Does Broken Oath support WASD movement?
Creators in the playtest report WASD movement alongside mouse movement. The developer has not published a control list, so treat it as a playtest feature that may change.

Sources

  1. Steam store page — control and controller statement
  2. Official screenshot — Rupture HUD
  3. Official screenshot — Passive tree controls
  4. Creator reports — playtest controls and build codes