Frostpunk 2 PC Keyboard Controls

This page lists every default Frostpunk 2 control for PC. All keybinds can be customized through the in-game Settings menu. If you are new to the series, start with the campaign on Citizen or Officer difficulty while learning these shortcuts.

Camera Movement

W, A, S, D — Move camera forward, left, backward, and right.
Q / E — Rotate camera left and right.
F — Focus on city center.
Mouse Scroll — Zoom in and out.
Left Bracket [ / Right Bracket ] — Cycle to previous or next city/colony.

Efficient camera work saves significant time when managing multiple districts and colonies. Read our dedicated camera and navigation guide for advanced techniques including colony switching during whiteout events.

Game Speed and Pause

1, 2, 3 — Set game speed to slow, normal, and fast.
Space Bar — Pause and unpause the game.

Always pause before making major district placement decisions. District adjacency bonuses for heat reduction and squalor prevention are permanent once constructed. Consult our district adjacency guide before confirming placement.

Menu Shortcuts

R — Idea Tree (research).
C — Council Hall (laws and politics).
V — Frostland map (expeditions and colonies).
N — Buildings menu.
H — Hubs menu.
B — Districts menu.
X — Frostbreaking tool.
T — Tutorials.
Escape — Close current panel.

These shortcuts form the backbone of mid-game management. The Council (C) and Idea Tree (R) are used constantly as factions form and research unlocks new buildings. Our Council and negotiation guide explains how to use the Council interface effectively.

Construction and Selection

Left Mouse Button — Confirm construction, select districts and buildings.
Right Mouse Button — Cancel placement, deselect.
Left Shift + Click — Continue placing the same structure.
Left Alt — Toggle district trackers.

When placing Industrial Districts, always check proximity effects before confirming. Placing industrial zones adjacent to Housing or Food Districts increases squalor and disease. The district types guide explains each district category and its placement requirements.

Economy Overlays and Save

4 — Heat and fuels economy overlay.
5 — Materials economy overlay.
6 — Food economy overlay.
7 — Workforce economy overlay.
8 — District proximity effects overlay.
Left Alt — Base economy overlay.
F5 — Quick save.
F9 — Quick load.

Overlay keys are invaluable during temperature drops and whiteout preparation. See the full economy overlays guide for tips on reading each overlay during crisis management.