S Sandustry Wiki
Keyboard reference

Sandustry Controls: Keyboard Shortcuts and Build Mode

Sandustry is played from a first-person view where your cursor places machines in a pixel grid. These are the PC controls that matter for the demo and Early Access builds.

Build mode Hover Descend Remove
Verified against v0.5.5 on 2026-08-20 Official source
Quick reference

The core movement and build keys

  • S — descend
  • R — build mode
  • X — remove
  • Shift — marquee select and launcher skip

Full Key Reference

The build relies on a small set of keys. These are the ones players reference most while setting up a first production line.

Movement

Getting around the map

  • Descend with S to dig or drop to a lower layer
  • Hover to move above the pixel grid
  • Use the launcher for fast horizontal travel, skipping with Shift
Building

Placing and removing machines

  • Enter build mode with R
  • Remove a machine with X
  • Use Shift to marquee-select a larger area at once

Related

Controls are the first thing to confirm before following a layout guide, since a shortcut can change how a pattern is built.

Early game tips · Beginner tutorial