How to Play Mall Game
Binds, HUD, hunger, and the flashlight - every rule the game does not tell you.
This page is the control reference for Mall Game. If you cannot move, interact, or figure out why your character is shaking, one of the sections below has the answer. Pair it with Erste Schritte for the pre-Tape 1 checklist.
PC controls
| Action | Key |
|---|---|
| Move | WASD |
| Sprint | Hold Shift |
| Crouch | Ctrl (hold) |
| Flashlight | F |
| Interact / Pick up | E |
| Open menu | Tab |
Mobile controls
- Left joystick - move
- Right joystick - camera
- Sprint button (hold) - bottom right
- Crouch button - bottom right
- Flashlight - icon above the joystick cluster
- Interact - auto-pickup when you stand over an item; E button in tight spaces
Controller
Standard Roblox controller binds. Check in Settings if your executor remaps them.
The HUD
- Objective text - top center, current quest step. If it is red, you are on the wrong step.
- Hunger bar - bottom left. Depletes over time. Eat pizza or the glizzy (before turning it in) to refill.
- Flashlight indicator - top right or battery icon. Off is safe; on is a beacon.
Hunger
Hunger depletes during Act 2. Low hunger causes a fidget/shake that breaks freeze prompts. Eat pizza at the cafeteria before David’s arm and before the fuel loop. The fidget is how people panic-sprint into Mother’s line of sight.
Flashlight discipline
Off in halls, on at pads and labels. A flashlight in a long dark corridor is a beacon. In the management offices, you need it to read door codes and labels. Toggle it, do not leave it on.
Sprint
Sprint is loud. Mother reacts to sound. In empty halls on Normal it is fine; near her patrol path it feeds her information. Crouch-walk past known patrol lines, sprint only in confirmed safe wings.
What the game does not explain
- Freeze prompt - a “do not move” pop-up on mobile. Both thumbs off. It means she can see you.
- Locker enter - stand in front of a locker and hold E (or the locker button on mobile).
- Revive - costs a ticket. If you have none, you restart from the last checkpoint.
Jump and crouch in tight spaces
Space bar activates jump. This is primarily useful for reaching elevated surfaces or clearing low obstacles. Crouch (Ctrl on PC, dedicated button on mobile) lowers your hitbox and reduces your sound footprint. Crouching does not make you invisible - it only helps in tight spaces where Mother might not fit. In standard hallways, crouching provides minimal stealth benefit and slows your movement. The primary use case for crouch is navigating vents and squeezing through gaps during the fuel loop or when repositioning near the management offices.
Tab menu and inventory
The Tab key opens the in-game menu on PC. This displays your current items, revive ticket count, and tix balance. On mobile, a dedicated inventory button serves the same function. The menu pauses the game timer in some game modes, giving you a moment to plan your next move without Hunger depleting or Mother advancing her patrol. Use this to check whether you have enough revive tickets before attempting a risky section, or to review the Quest-Reihenfolge if you have lost track of your objective.
Related
Erste Schritte for the lobby checklist. Wie man überlebt for stealth mechanics. Karte for wing names.
Controls reference (all platforms)
PC default: WASD to move, Shift to sprint, Space to jump, E to interact / pick up, Q to drop held item, F to toggle flashlight, R to reload taser, Tab to open map. Mouse left-click swings melee, right-click throws held items. Mobile: virtual joystick on the left, action buttons on the right; swipe up on the action wheel to swap items. Controller (Xbox / PlayStation): left stick to move, A / X to jump, X / Square to interact, Y / Triangle to drop, RT to swing / throw, LT to aim.
Hunger and stamina basics
Hunger ticks down every ~25 seconds on Normal, faster on Hard. Eat at the food court between Acts, not during chases. Stamina is invisible but real: sprinting back-to-back drains a hidden meter that causes a 1.5-second stagger the next time you try to sprint. Pause to walk for a few seconds if your character suddenly locks up mid-chase.
Flashlight and noise management
The flashlight cone reveals hiding spots and Moth eyes but also flags your position to Mother. Tap F to toggle, do not hold it. Dropping an item (Q) makes a sound that can lure Mother toward you - useful as a distraction, dangerous if she is already close. Taser shots have a loud audio cue; use them only when you can afford the noise.