WASD vs. Arrow keys

[thanonyx thanonyx]

Which do you prefer to move around in PC games, WASD or the arrow keys, and why?

Or is it a case of they each work better in certain games than others?

 

[Waffles's iconWaffles]

I could never get used to WASD, despite arguably seeing it more during my lifetime (and my current keyboard has those keys painted a different color just to rub it in XD). I grew up on the "streets" of arrow keys + spacebar + ALT + CNTL.

 

[Glimbo]

Depends entirely on the game. If it uses a mouse then WASD, if it uses keyboard exclusively then arrow keys. Using WASD on a keyboard exclusive games just feels wrong to me and I can never get used to it.

 

[DunkeyKong]

If it's a game using a mouse, then WASD definitely

 

[norunove]

I gotta agree with @Glimbo, it really depends on the game, FPS/TPS at least for me is def a WASD kind of game, on fighting games i gotta use the arrow keys, left hand on punch/kick buttons and right hand on the movement keys

 

[Grumpy_Old_Man]

I guess I'll add myself to the majority as you'll caught me dead, before playing something like Jazz Jackrabbit with a wasd configuration.
But wasd and mouse seem perfect for any kind of first person game(shooters, exploratory ones, adventure, etc).

 

[kanesha]

WASD is obviously better cause it's in the center of the keyboard, so you have easier access from there to more keys. If you want to use your right hand you can map IJKL. Arrow keys are good if you are intimidated by the sheer power of your keyboard and don't want to accidentally press some combo that will explode your GPU and eject the hard drive out the window, that's why they are out of the way and there is a sacred vow that every programmer needs to make as a part of their initiation rite to never map them to anything dangerous.

 

[Lazerith]

To be honest, it really depends on what I am playing.
DOOM - WASD
SHMUPs - Arrow keys

 

[Yukyon]

I never got used to WASD so I use the arrow keys unless it's a fps or if I can use a controller

 

[MistHunter]

Both of them (and beyond).
For each game, I must adapt.

 

[RanmyakuIchi's icon RanmyakuIchi RanmyakuIchi]

Pretty universally WASD regardless of genre. I just feel so uncomfortable using my right hand for movement and Arrows Keys/Numpad is too crowded for my taste.

 

[Spike's iconSpike]

ARROW WAT?

j/k not my keyboard.

 

[MistHunter]

(Directional Keys?
And mouse counts, right?
Even a scanner counts!)

 

[kanesha]

ARROW WAT? View attachment 18055

j/k not my keyboard.

peak performance

Post automatically merged: Jan 27, 2025

 

[Stookymalarkey]

Any game that uses a keyboard+mouse, I gotta use WASD. I tried using arrow keys in the first Max Payne, and that was very uncomfortable. It was also much harder hitting the other keys quickly since my hands had to travel further. If I'm playing a 2D game, like a platfomer or shoot 'em up, then arrow keys are fine.

 

[JustLooking123]

I could never get used to WASD, despite arguably seeing it more during my lifetime (and my current keyboard has those keys painted a different color just to rub it in XD). I grew up on the "streets" of arrow keys + spacebar + ALT + CNTL.

I'm not a fan of WASD either! if there's a key mapping option in any game, i always change them from WASD to arrow keys. (if it's not the default)

Maybe my main reason is the fact that in my keyboard, keys are shifted a bit in each row, so W key is not right above S key... and my finger sometimes go over E key instead, or in the gap between them... it's just annoying and doesn't let me focus on the game!

 

[VampireLord1024VampireLord1024's icon]

Arrow keys.

 

[RageBurner]

WASD, absolutely. Despite being right handed, using my left for movement control always felt the most natural.

 

[JustLooking123]

WASD, absolutely. Despite being right handed, using my left for movement control always felt the most natural.

Good point!
I think another reason i prefer arrow keys is that i have used my right hand for direction for most of my life!
so using my left hand for it is not very muscle-memory friendly for me... ?

 

[SLEDGE_DOG]

Almost always WASD.
Arrows for 2D platformers and other arcadey games.
Numpad for grid-based games.

I can see the benefit of moving one right to ESDF, but it just feels wrong after being on WASD for so long.

 

[SpaceCadetGenocide]

Which do you prefer to move around in PC games, WASD or the arrow keys, and why?

Or is it a case of they each work better in certain games than others?

Game by game basis, keyboard by keyboard basis. I don't like working with WASD on RPG games with grid movement in the same way using arrow keys for a game in 3D is unintuitive when you need a mouse to look around, but for the former some keyboards have arrow keys made for ants and WASD is preferable to arrow keys because my hands cramp from having my fingers too close together for extended periods of time

 

[RageBurner]

my hands cramp from having my fingers too close together for extended periods of time

That's the main reason I used WASD, to keep my hands as far away as possible. Normally my right hand takes care of face button equivalents.

 

[AnonymousCookieMonster]

I used to love playing Operation Inner Space in 1992-2000, a Windows shareware game (which i paid $20 for the full game sometime in 1998). Anyways, i played with the arrow keys and using z/ctrl/alt for various actions otherwise.

Then decades later, picked up to play Ring Runner (another space shooter-like game), and i was unable to properly play with WASD. Even though WASD works perfectly fine with other games. This has heavy implications for just the controller layout where the left hand handles movement and the right hand handles activating abilities and camera orientation.

Anyways. WASD is a workaround that's been widely accepted, while a controller would be better in many cases. It really is more what you're used to and less the exact method or choice of key buttons.

 

[Aleph]

Depends entirely on the game. If it uses a mouse then WASD, if it uses keyboard exclusively then arrow keys. Using WASD on a keyboard exclusive games just feels wrong to me and I can never get used to it.

Pretty much this. You'll never catch me on Asheron's Call or EverQuest with WASD.

Can't play WoW without it, though.

 

[frankied85]

I wish keyboard manufacturers left off the WASD keys. Not because WASD is bad...

BUT because it should be ESDF. For starters, ESDF is where your hands naturally sit on the keyboard for touch typing. The dimple on the F key shows your index finger the right key if you get lost. You have extra "macro" keys in the QWAZXC all around it.

WASD needs to be retired in favor of ESDF.