👉 The desktop versions of GnollHack add full keyboard play, configurable mouse buttons, a wider status bar, and their own defaults for several settings.
⌨️ Keyboard Shortcuts
On desktop, you can play the whole game with Keyboard Shortcuts, as in NetHack.
🎮 Game Controllers
You can also play with a game controller: an Xbox or other XInput controller on Windows, a gamepad on Linux, or an Xbox, PlayStation, or other gamepad on macOS. The controls are the same as on the Steam Deck, with radial menus and on-screen button hints. See Steam Deck Controls.
🖱️ Mouse Button Quick Actions
In the Settings screen, you can give the Right Mouse Button and the Middle Mouse Button each a quick action:
| Quick Action Option | Description |
|---|---|
| Default / By Role | Runs the default action for your character class. For details, see Character Classes. |
| Off | Disables clicks on the configured button. |
| Look | Looks at the target tile, the same as Far Look (/). |
| Move | Travels or moves your character to the clicked tile. |
| Cast | Casts your Quick Spell at the target. You set the Quick Spell in the cast menu. |
| Fire | Fires or throws your quivered ranged weapon or projectile at the target. If autoswapping is on, it switches to the correct launcher when needed. |
| Zap | Zaps your Quick Wand at the target. You set the Quick Wand in the item action screen of the inventory. |
| Polearm | Attacks the target with a polearm, switching to it if autoswapping is on. If you are not wielding one and have none as your alternate weapon, it wields one from your inventory. |
Role-Specific Defaults
With Default / By Role, the click action depends on your character class:
| Character Class / Role | Right Click Default | Middle Click Default |
|---|---|---|
| Healer / Monk / Priest / Wizard | Cast | Zap |
| Knight | Polearm | Look |
| All Other Character Classes | Fire | Look |
⚙️ Settings Enabled on Desktop by Default
These settings have different defaults on desktop and on mobile. You can change them in the Settings screen:
| Setting Name | Default Value | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Single Commands Page |
On (Desktop) Off (Mobile) |
Shows all commands of the More Commands launcher on one page. On mobile, they are split over several pages instead. |
| OK on Double Click |
On (Desktop) Off (Mobile) |
Double-clicking an item in a menu selects it and presses the OK button. |
| On Switching Apps |
Checkpoint (Desktop) Save Game (Mobile) |
What the game does when its window loses focus. Checkpoint saves a checkpoint in the background without closing open menus or exiting; Save Game saves the game and returns to the main menu. |
| Desktop Status Bar |
On (Desktop) Off (Mobile) |
Uses the extra width of a desktop screen to show all 6 Attribute Scores and Alignment with icons, and has toggles to show Score and XP on the status bar. On mobile, attributes and alignment are not shown on the status bar. |
| Desktop Buttons |
On (Desktop) Off (Mobile) |
Shows Stats and Equipment buttons in the bottom-left and bottom-right corners of the main screen. On mobile, or when the setting is off, you open them by clicking or tapping the top-left and top-right corners of the screen. |
| Show Keyboard Shortcuts |
On (Desktop) Off (Mobile) |
Shows each action button's keyboard shortcut on the button. |
🔍 More Commands Search Filter
On desktop, the More Commands menu has a search field. Type in it to filter the commands as you type, instead of scrolling through the list.
🖱️ Menu Navigation
In menus, right-clicking an item works like a Long Tap on mobile, which opens a context menu, item details, or extra options.
🖥️ Windowed Mode
The Windowed Mode setting switches the game between full-screen and windowed mode.
⚠️ Warning: The change takes effect only after you restart the game.