You don’t need any special settings to use a controller in Necesse. Just connect your controller to your PC, move a stick or press a button, and the game automatically switches to controller inputs. There is no “Enable Controller” toggle in the settings menu.
However, some players might still have questions. “Can I play with my PS5 controller?”, “Aiming with the right stick feels weird”, or “How do I change the button layout?”—to answer these, we’ll break down how the game detects controllers, the default layout, how aiming works, and how to remap your buttons.
The testing environment for this guide is listed at the end of the article.
1. Just Connect via USB or Bluetooth
Necesse automatically detects connected controllers. The process is incredibly simple:
- Connect your controller to your PC (using a wired USB cable or wirelessly via Bluetooth).
- Launch the game (if the game is already running, just move a stick after connecting).
- Move a stick or press any button.
That’s it. The button prompts on the screen will instantly switch from keyboard keys to controller button icons. If you move your mouse, it switches back to mouse controls. The game always prioritizes the last input method used, so you can seamlessly swap between a keyboard and a controller depending on the situation.
If you want to check your current bindings, open Settings and go to “Controls”. You’ll see options for “Mouse & keyboard” and “Controller”. Selecting the “Controller” tab displays the gamepad control scheme.
Supported Controllers and Automatic Button Prompts
Necesse recognizes the type of controller you connected and changes the on-screen button icons to match that brand. The game distinguishes between the following types:
| Controller | On-Screen Button Prompts |
|---|---|
| Xbox Controllers | A, B, X, Y |
| PlayStation 4 | ✕, ○, □, △ |
| PlayStation 5 | ✕, ○, □, △ |
| Other / Unknown | Treated as Xbox layout |
If you plug in a PS5 controller, the game will show ✕○□△ prompts, saving you the hassle of translating “Press A” to your PlayStation layout. It’s a small detail, but it significantly reduces confusion for first-time players.
When launching the Steam version, controller connections are handled via Steam Input. Steam Input supports over 200 devices, including Xbox, PlayStation, and Nintendo Switch controllers. This means you can use a Switch Pro Controller or Joy-Cons (though the on-screen prompts may default to the Xbox layout). As long as Steam recognizes it, Necesse can use it.
Playable on Steam Deck
Necesse is fully compatible with the Steam Deck. You can use the Deck’s built-in sticks and buttons without any extra configuration. It’s perfectly suited for relaxing in bed while playing.
2. Aiming: Move the Cursor with the Right Stick
The first thing that might trip you up is aiming. Because Necesse was designed around aiming with a mouse cursor, the controller scheme requires you to move the on-screen cursor with the right stick to aim your attacks. Instead of instantly snapping to a point like a mouse, you have to guide the cursor across the screen.
If the aiming feels clunky, you can adjust the right stick sensitivity. In the Steam version, you can find a “Right Joystick Sensitivity” slider within Steam’s controller settings. Lower it if the cursor moves too fast and overshoots, or raise it if it feels too sluggish. On the same screen, you’ll also find an “Invert Right Joystick Y Axis” toggle if you prefer inverted vertical controls.
Adjusting the sensitivity to fit your “In-Game” action set (explained below) can greatly improve how easy it is to aim during combat. This is especially important for ranged builds like magic or bows, so take some time to tweak it until it feels right. If you primarily use melee weapons, the default sensitivity is usually fine.
3. The Default Button Layout
Once connected, you can start playing immediately with the default Xbox-based layout. If you’re using a PlayStation controller, just mentally swap A→✕, B→○, X→□, and Y→△.
| Action | Button |
|---|---|
| Move | Left Stick |
| Aim | Right Stick |
| Attack/Place | RT |
| Interact (Talk/Inspect) | LT |
| Inventory | Y |
| Use torch | A |
| Use health potion | B |
| Use trinket ability | X |
| Next/Previous Hotbar Slot | RB / LB |
| Use mana potion | D-Pad Up |
| Use mount | D-Pad Down |
| Open settlement | D-Pad Left |
| Use armor set ability | D-Pad Right |
| Show world map | View Button (◁) |
| Toggle Main Menu | Menu Button (▶) |
The D-Pad handles four highly-used actions (Use mana potion, Use mount, Open settlement, and Use armor set ability). The mana potion (Up) is particularly crucial for magic and summoner builds, so commit its direction to muscle memory to avoid fumbling during a boss fight.
If you want to know how to progress through early boss fights or when to use certain actions, check out our Beginner’s Guide. It’s a great resource if you want to get a grasp on the basic gameplay flow.
4. The Three Action Sets: Context-Sensitive Buttons
Before you try changing your button layout, it’s important to understand Action Sets. The Steam controller configuration splits your bindings into three different sets depending on what you’re currently doing in the game. The “A” button will do something different depending on the active set. The default table above only covers the “In-Game” set.
Desktop — Used when you’re outside of gameplay, like on the title screen. The sticks act as a mouse, and the buttons act as left-clicks. It’s essentially a mouse-emulation mode.
Menu & Inventory — Used when your inventory or menus are open. The D-Pad navigates the menu, A selects, B goes back, X performs an action, and Y closes the inventory.
This is why the same button acts differently in combat versus in a menu. You only really need to memorize the “In-Game” controls for actual gameplay; the other two sets switch automatically, so you don’t need to worry about them.
5. How to Remap Your Buttons
If the default layout doesn’t suit you, go to Settings → Controls → Controller. On the Steam version, this will open the Steam controller configuration window (the action sets screen shown above).
From there, you can reassign each button individually. If you want to change your controls during normal gameplay, edit the “In-Game” set. If you have a controller with a gyro or trackpads, you can even set up more complex input schemes.
Note that the “Mouse & keyboard” option in the Controls menu is managed entirely separately. Changing your controller layout will not affect your keyboard bindings.
Remapping Tips:
– Keep frequently used items like health potions and torches on the four face buttons so you don’t have to move your thumb during combat.
– Reassign the four D-Pad actions to directions that feel most natural for you.
– If you’re unsure, just stick with the default layout. It’s perfectly viable for beating the game.
6. Controller vs. Keyboard & Mouse: Which is Better?
To be perfectly honest, a keyboard and mouse are far more comfortable for building and complex inventory management. A mouse can instantly snap to any specific tile, and you can instantly access all 10 hotbar slots using the number keys. With a controller, you have to drag the cursor with the right stick, which makes precise placement and quick weapon swapping slightly slower.
On the other hand, if your playstyle focuses mainly on movement and combat, a controller is perfectly fine for the entire game. The comfort of lounging on a sofa or playing in handheld mode on a Steam Deck often outweighs the drawbacks.
Our recommendation is to use both. Since Necesse switches inputs automatically, you can play the bulk of the game comfortably with a controller, and simply grab your mouse when you need to flatten land or build complex automated layouts. You don’t have to lock yourself into just one method.
Here’s a quick breakdown:
| Player Type | Recommendation |
|---|---|
| Wants precise aiming (Bows/Magic) or loves large-scale building | Keyboard & Mouse |
| Prefers a relaxed, melee-focused playthrough or plays in bed | Controller |
| Wants the best of both worlds | Connect both and auto-switch |
Summary
- Necesse automatically detects controllers as soon as you connect them and move a stick. There is no toggle to enable them.
- The on-screen button prompts automatically change to match your controller brand (Xbox/PS4/PS5).
- Aiming is done by moving a cursor with the right stick. If it feels off, adjust the “Right Joystick Sensitivity” in Steam’s controller settings.
- You can remap buttons via the Steam controller settings (accessed from the in-game Controls menu). This does not affect keyboard bindings.
- It’s Steam Deck compatible. You can easily use a mouse for building and a controller for exploring.
Grab your controller, plug it in, and push the stick. You’ll see the controls seamlessly switch over right away.
Testing Environment
- Game: Necesse (Steam Version)
- Controller: Descriptions are based on the Xbox layout. PS4/PS5 and Steam Deck are confirmed to be supported types.
- Verification Method: Based on actual screenshots of the in-game Controls menu and the Steam Input configuration screen (In-Game action set). The 4-way D-Pad assignments were also confirmed in-game.
- Keys and buttons are remappable. The default layout provided reflects the initial state of the “In-Game” action set.