Browser play guide
PS1 controls in your browser: keyboard, controller and touch
By RetroHours · Updated
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PS1 games in RetroHours get a full PlayStation controller: D-pad, Cross, Circle, Square, Triangle, L1, R1, L2, R2, Start and Select. Play with your keyboard, almost any controller, or the on-screen pad on a phone or tablet.
Default keyboard keys
| PS1 button | Keyboard | Row in Controls |
|---|---|---|
| D-pad | Arrow keys | Up, Down, Left, Right |
| Cross | Z | A button |
| Circle | X | B button |
| Square | A | X button |
| Triangle | S | Y button |
| L1 | Q | Left shoulder (L1) |
| R1 | W | Right shoulder (R1) |
| L2 | E | Left trigger (L2) |
| R2 | R | Right trigger (R2) |
| Start | Enter | Start |
| Select | Space | Select |
Click the game screen first so it gets your keys. On a Mac keyboard, Return works as Enter. Tab moves focus back to the player buttons.
Change a key
- Stop the game, then open Controls → Buttons.
- Find the button’s row, for example A button for Cross.
- Select its Keyboard entry and press the key you want.
- Leave Game gets as it is.
If a game has its own button settings, change one place at a time so you always know which setting does what.
Use a controller
Connect the controller by USB or Bluetooth, then press any button so the browser sees it. Buttons match the PS1 layout by position, so the bottom face button is always Cross, whatever its label says.
| PS1 button | PlayStation | Xbox | Nintendo Switch |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cross | Cross | A | B |
| Circle | Circle | B | A |
| Square | Square | X | Y |
| Triangle | Triangle | Y | X |
| L1 / R1 | L1 / R1 | LB / RB | L / R |
| L2 / R2 | L2 / R2 | LT / RT | ZL / ZR |
| Start | Options | Menu | + |
| Select | Share or Create | View | − |
Analog sticks and DualShock games
Games made for the DualShock can switch the controller to analog mode. To use both sticks and L3/R3 (pressing the sticks in), open Controls and set Controller sends to Controller. With Keys, the controller acts like a keyboard: the left stick works as the D-pad.
Touch controls on phones and tablets
On a phone or tablet, an on-screen pad appears under the game, and over the picture in fullscreen. It has the D-pad, four face buttons, shoulder buttons, Start and Select.
To change its size, opacity or vibration, open Controls → Touch. For long sessions, a controller connected to your phone or tablet works too.
Fix common problems
- Nothing responds: close menus and click the game screen.
- A button does the wrong thing: check its row in Controls, then the game’s own button settings.
- The controller isn’t detected: press a button while the RetroHours tab is in front, or reconnect it.
- The character keeps moving: release every button and stick, then adjust the dead zone in Tuning.
New to PS1 games in RetroHours? Start with how to play your PS1 games in your browser.
Common questions
- What are the keyboard controls for PS1 games?
- Arrow keys for the D-pad, Z for Cross, X for Circle, A for Square, S for Triangle, Q and W for L1 and R1, E and R for L2 and R2, Enter for Start and Space for Select.
- Can I use a PS4 or PS5 controller?
- Yes, by USB or Bluetooth. Press a button once so the browser sees it.
- Do analog sticks work in PS1 games?
- Yes, in games made for the DualShock. Set Controller sends to Controller in Controls.