What are the controls for Petal?
Use the arrow keys to move Ana and Space to interact with people, doors, objects, and menu choices. Tabopens the menu and returns to the previous menu. F1 or1 hides the mouse cursor. X exits the box when Ana is hiding. The current title screen also accepts Enter to start, based on a direct check of the July 23 browser build.
| Key | Official action | When it matters |
|---|---|---|
| Arrow keys | Move Ana | Walking between rooms and lining up with objects |
| Space | Interact and confirm | Talking, checking objects, selecting menu options |
| Tab | Open the menu or go back | Opening the menu or returning one menu level |
| F1 or 1 | Hide the mouse cursor | Removing the cursor when it covers the game |
| X | Exit the box | Leaving Ana's box hiding position |
How do you start Petal on this site?
- Open the Petal player on the homepage.
- Select Play Petal. The player loads only after this action.
- Wait for the Godot splash and progress indicator to finish.
- Click inside the game frame so it receives keyboard input.
- Use Enter on the title screen, then choose a language if prompted.
- Use the arrow keys and Space once the story begins.
First-load note: the tested build transfers about 122 MB across its WebAssembly and PCK files. A slow connection may leave the loading screen visible for a while. Later visits can be faster when the browser cache is available.
Why can movement feel different after a camera cut?
Petal frames rooms with fixed camera angles. When Ana crosses into another view, the picture rotates around her even though the character continues moving through the same space. If a direction suddenly feels wrong, release the key, look at Ana’s position in the new frame, then tap one arrow at a time. Short inputs are easier than holding a key through several camera changes.
Spoiler-light tips for the flower shop
- Stand close to an object and face it before pressing Space. A small adjustment often matters more than repeated interaction presses.
- Read the full dialogue prompt before moving away. The July 23 update rebuilt the dialogue system, but leaving a trigger immediately can still make the next goal easy to miss.
- Remember that X is specifically listed as the exit control for the box. It is not the general back button.
- Use Tab when you want the menu or need to return to the previous menu. It is separate from in-world interaction.
- If you reach the petal box puzzle, watch the on-screen control indicators. The July 14 update added those cues and preserves the previous box rotation.
Does Petal support a controller or phone?
The official itch.io listing identifies keyboard input and documents keyboard controls only. Some browsers may pass controller inputs to Godot, but 13-23 does not list an official controller layout on the game page. Touch controls are also not documented. For a predictable playthrough, use a desktop or laptop with a physical keyboard.
What should you do if the game does not respond?
- Click once inside the game frame to restore focus.
- Exit browser fullscreen and try the same key again.
- Reload the game player with the reload icon above the frame.
- Disable aggressive script blocking for this site, then reload.
- Try theofficial itch.io build to separate a site issue from a game issue.
Sources for this control guide
The key list comes from the official Petal itch.io page. The box-puzzle note comes from the July 14 official update. Build size and title-screen behavior are direct observations from the current official HTML5 export tested on July 30 and July 31, 2026. See the source index for every link.