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Windows · 33 default keybinds
Gothic 1 Keyboard Controls
The original 2001 Gothic plays almost entirely on the arrow keys and Ctrl: hold Ctrl and press an arrow to talk, pick up, open, swing, parry or shoot, and Space switches between walking around and fighting. These are the defaults printed in Piranha Bytes' own manual, not the 2025 remake's modern layout.
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All Gothic 1 keyboard controls
33 default keybinds across 7 categories. Most can be reassigned in Gothic 1's control settings.
+ 4 more controls in the table below
+ 4 more controls in the table below
33 shortcuts
Combat 9
| Action | Shortcut |
|---|---|
| Toggle Combat Mode | Space |
| Attack (melee) | CtrlUP |
| Melee Weapon | 1 |
| Parry (melee) | CtrlDOWN |
| Ranged Weapon | 2 |
| Side Attack (melee) | CtrlLEFTthen/thenCtrlRIGHT |
| Shoot (ranged) | CtrlUP |
| Change Target (melee / magic) | LEFTthen/thenRIGHT |
| Change Target (ranged) | CtrlLEFTthen/thenCtrlRIGHT |
Movement 7
| Action | Shortcut |
|---|---|
| Move Forward | UP |
| Move Backward | DOWN |
| Turn Left / Right | LEFTthen/thenRIGHT |
| Sidestep Left | Del |
| Sidestep Right | PgDn |
| Walk (hold) | Shift |
| Toggle Walk / Run | Caps Lock |
Interaction 4
| Action | Shortcut |
|---|---|
| Pick Up / Talk / Open / Use | CtrlUP |
| Choose Dialogue Line | UPthen/thenDOWN |
| Confirm Dialogue Line | Enter |
| Step Back from Object | CtrlDOWN |
Magic 4
| Action | Shortcut |
|---|---|
| Cast Spell | CtrlUP |
| Last Used Spell | 3 |
| Spell Hotkeys | 4then5then6then7then8then9then0 |
| End Transformation / Control Spell | Enter |
Inventory 4
| Action | Shortcut |
|---|---|
| Inventory | Tab |
| Equip / Use Item | CtrlUP |
| Close Inventory / Chest | Esc |
| Drop Item | CtrlDOWN |
Camera 3
| Action | Shortcut |
|---|---|
| Look Around (hold, then arrows) | Num 0 |
| First-Person Look (hold) | Num . |
| Camera Distance | Num +then/thenNum − |
Menus 2
| Action | Shortcut |
|---|---|
| Status Screen | S |
| Main Menu | Esc |
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Unofficial reference. ShortcutPosters is not affiliated with, endorsed by, or sponsored by Gothic 1. All product names, logos, and trademarks are property of their respective owners. See our licensing & trademark notice.
Gothic 1 controls — FAQ
- What are the default controls for Gothic 1?
- Gothic 1, a rpg game, uses 33 default keybinds across 7 categories. The complete, up-to-date list is free to read on this page.
- Can you remap Gothic 1 controls?
- Yes. These are the game's default bindings — nearly all of them can be reassigned from Gothic 1's in-game control or key-binding settings.
- Which platforms do these Gothic 1 controls cover?
- These keyboard controls apply on Windows. Most bindings are identical across platforms unless noted.
- Is this an official Gothic 1 resource?
- No. This is an unofficial reference and is not affiliated with or endorsed by Gothic 1 or its publisher. All trademarks belong to their respective owners.
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Gothic collection
4 Gothic games in the catalogue, every control scheme free to read.
See all 4 Gothic games →
