---
name: dev-phaser-input-handlers
description: Keyboard, mouse, touch, and gamepad input management for Phaser
---

# Phaser Input Handlers

> "Responsive controls for every platform and input method."

## Before/After: Manual DOM Events vs Phaser Input System

### ❌ Before: Manual DOM Event Listeners

```typescript
// Manual input handling without Phaser
const keys: { [key: string]: boolean } = {};

// Setup key listeners
document.addEventListener('keydown', (e) => {
  keys[e.key] = true;
  keys[e.code] = true;

  // Manual input handling
  if (e.key === 'ArrowLeft') player.x -= 5;
  if (e.key === 'ArrowRight') player.x += 5;
  if (e.code === 'KeyW') player.y -= 5;
});

document.addEventListener('keyup', (e) => {
  keys[e.key] = false;
  keys[e.code] = false;
});

// Manual mouse/touch
canvas.addEventListener('mousedown', (e) => {
  shoot(e.clientX, e.clientY);
});

canvas.addEventListener('touchstart', (e) => {
  const touch = e.touches[0];
  shoot(touch.clientX, touch.clientY);
});

// Problems:
// - Different code paths for mouse vs touch
// - No key repeat prevention
// - No JustDown/JustUp tracking
// - Manual input state management
// - No gamepad support
// - Platform-specific issues
```

### ✅ After: Phaser Unified Input System

```typescript
// Phaser handles all input types uniformly
export class GameScene extends Phaser.Scene {
  private cursors!: Phaser.Types.Input.Keyboard.CursorKeys;
  private gamepadIndex = 0;
  private inputManager!: InputManager;

  create() {
    // Unified input setup - ONE system for all!
    this.cursors = this.input.keyboard!.createCursorKeys();
    this.inputManager = new InputManager(this);

    // Pointer works for mouse AND touch automatically
    this.input.on('pointerdown', (pointer: Phaser.Input.Pointer) => {
      this.shoot(pointer.x, pointer.y);
    });

    // Gamepad auto-detected
    this.input.gamepad!.on('connected', (pad) => {
      console.log('Gamepad connected:', pad.id);
    });
  }

  update() {
    // Input Manager abstracts all input methods
    const move = this.inputManager.getMovement(); // Works for keyboard, gamepad, or virtual joystick!

    this.player.setVelocity(move.x * 200, move.y * 200);

    if (this.inputManager.isJumpPressed()) {
      this.player.jump();
    }
  }
}

// Benefits:
// - Single API for all input types
// - Built-in JustDown/JustUp for triggers
// - Automatic mouse/touch unification
// - Native gamepad support
// - Virtual joystick for mobile
// - Platform-agnostic code
```

## When to Use This Skill

Use when:

- Implementing player controls
- Handling keyboard input
- Adding mouse/touch interaction
- Supporting gamepad controllers
- Creating virtual controls for mobile

## Quick Start

```typescript
create() {
  // Keyboard
  this.cursors = this.input.keyboard!.createCursorKeys();
  this.wasd = this.input.keyboard!.addKeys('W,A,S,D');

  // Mouse
  this.input.on('pointerdown', (pointer) => {
    this.spawnBullet(pointer.x, pointer.y);
  });
}

update() {
  if (this.cursors.left.isDown) {
    this.player.x -= 5;
  }
}
```

## Decision Framework

| Need       | Use                                   |
| ---------- | ------------------------------------- |
| Arrow keys | `createCursorKeys()`                  |
| WASD       | `addKeys('W,A,S,D')`                  |
| Click/tap  | `pointerdown` event                   |
| Drag       | `setInteractive({ draggable: true })` |
| Gamepad    | `gamepadpad` plugin                   |

## Progressive Guide

### Level 1: Keyboard Input

```typescript
export class GameScene extends Phaser.Scene {
  private cursors!: Phaser.Types.Input.Keyboard.CursorKeys;
  private wasd!: {
    W: Phaser.Input.Keyboard.Key;
    A: Phaser.Input.Keyboard.Key;
    S: Phaser.Input.Keyboard.Key;
    D: Phaser.Input.Keyboard.Key;
  };
  private jumpKey!: Phaser.Input.Keyboard.Key;
  private shootKey!: Phaser.Input.Keyboard.Key;

  create() {
    // Arrow keys
    this.cursors = this.input.keyboard!.createCursorKeys();

    // WASD keys
    this.wasd = this.input.keyboard!.addKeys("W,A,S,D") as any;

    // Single key
    this.jumpKey = this.input.keyboard!.addKey("SPACE");
    this.shootKey = this.input.keyboard!.addKey(
      Phaser.Input.Keyboard.KeyCodes.X,
    );

    // Key combinations
    const shiftKey = this.input.keyboard!.addKey("SHIFT");
    this.input.keyboard!.on("keydown-SHIFT", () => {
      this.player.sprint = true;
    });
    this.input.keyboard!.on("keyup-SHIFT", () => {
      this.player.sprint = false;
    });
  }

  update() {
    // Arrow keys
    if (this.cursors.left.isDown) {
      this.player.setVelocityX(-160);
    } else if (this.cursors.right.isDown) {
      this.player.setVelocityX(160);
    } else {
      this.player.setVelocityX(0);
    }

    // Jump
    if (this.cursors.up.isDown && this.player.body!.touching.down) {
      this.player.setVelocityY(-330);
    }

    // WASD alternative
    if (this.wasd.A.isDown) {
      this.player.setVelocityX(-160);
    }

    // Single key check
    if (Phaser.Input.Keyboard.JustDown(this.jumpKey)) {
      this.player.jump();
    }

    // Shoot while held
    if (this.shootKey.isDown) {
      this.player.shoot();
    }
  }
}
```

### Level 2: Mouse and Touch Input

```typescript
create() {
  // Pointer (unified mouse/touch)
  this.input.on('pointermove', (pointer: Phaser.Input.Pointer) => {
    this.player.rotation = Phaser.Math.Angle.Between(
      this.player.x, this.player.y,
      pointer.x, pointer.y
    );
  });

  this.input.on('pointerdown', (pointer: Phaser.Input.Pointer) => {
    this.shoot(pointer.x, pointer.y);
  });

  // Dragging game objects
  const box = this.add.image(400, 300, 'box');
  box.setInteractive({ draggable: true });

  this.input.setDraggable([box]);

  this.input.on('drag', (pointer: any, gameObject: Phaser.GameObjects.Image, dragX: number, dragY: number) => {
    gameObject.x = dragX;
    gameObject.y = dragY;
  });

  // Click-specific detection
  this.input.on('gameobjectdown', (pointer: any, gameObject: any) => {
    gameObject.setTint(0xff0000);
  });

  // Zone interaction
  const zone = this.add.zone(400, 300, 200, 200);
  zone.setInteractive({ useHandCursor: true });
  zone.on('pointerover', () => {
    zone.setFillStyle(0x444444);
  });
  zone.on('pointerout', () => {
    zone.setFillStyle(0x000000);
  });
}
```

### Level 3: Virtual Joystick for Mobile

```typescript
export class GameScene extends Phaser.Scene {
  private joystick!: {
    base: Phaser.GameObjects.Image;
    knob: Phaser.GameObjects.Image;
  };
  private joystickActive = false;
  private joystickPointerId: number | null = null;
  private joystickVector = { x: 0, y: 0 };

  create() {
    // Only show on touch devices
    if (this.sys.game.device.os.android || this.sys.game.device.os.iOS) {
      this.createVirtualJoystick();
    }
  }

  createVirtualJoystick() {
    const joyX = 100;
    const joyY = this.scale.height - 100;
    const radius = 50;

    // Joystick base
    const base = this.add.circle(joyX, joyY, radius, 0x444444, 0.5);
    base.setScrollFactor(0);
    base.setDepth(1000);

    // Joystick knob
    const knob = this.add.circle(joyX, joyY, 20, 0x888888, 0.8);
    knob.setScrollFactor(0);
    knob.setDepth(1001);

    this.joystick = { base, knob };

    // Touch input for joystick
    this.input.on("pointerdown", (pointer: Phaser.Input.Pointer) => {
      const dist = Phaser.Math.Distance.Between(
        pointer.x,
        pointer.y,
        joyX,
        joyY,
      );
      if (dist < radius && this.joystickPointerId === null) {
        this.joystickActive = true;
        this.joystickPointerId = pointer.id;
      }
    });

    this.input.on("pointermove", (pointer: Phaser.Input.Pointer) => {
      if (this.joystickActive && pointer.id === this.joystickPointerId) {
        const angle = Phaser.Math.Angle.Between(
          joyX,
          joyY,
          pointer.x,
          pointer.y,
        );
        const dist = Math.min(
          Phaser.Math.Distance.Between(joyX, joyY, pointer.x, pointer.y),
          radius,
        );

        this.joystick.knob.x = joyX + Math.cos(angle) * dist;
        this.joystick.knob.y = joyY + Math.sin(angle) * dist;

        // Normalized vector (-1 to 1)
        this.joystickVector.x = (this.joystick.knob.x - joyX) / radius;
        this.joystickVector.y = (this.joystick.knob.y - joyY) / radius;
      }
    });

    this.input.on("pointerup", (pointer: Phaser.Input.Pointer) => {
      if (pointer.id === this.joystickPointerId) {
        this.joystickActive = false;
        this.joystickPointerId = null;
        this.joystick.knob.x = joyX;
        this.joystick.knob.y = joyY;
        this.joystickVector = { x: 0, y: 0 };
      }
    });
  }

  update() {
    if (this.joystickActive) {
      this.player.setVelocity(
        this.joystickVector.x * this.player.speed,
        this.joystickVector.y * this.player.speed,
      );
    }
  }
}
```

### Level 4: Gamepad Support

```typescript
create() {
  // Gamepad is auto-enabled in Phaser 3

  // Check for gamepad connection
  this.input.gamepad!.on('connected', (gamepad: Phaser.Input.Gamepad.Gamepad) => {
    console.log('Gamepad connected:', gamepad.id);
  });

  this.input.gamepad!.on('disconnected', (gamepad: Phaser.Input.Gamepad.Gamepad) => {
    console.log('Gamepad disconnected:', gamepad.id);
  });
}

update() {
  const pads = this.input.gamepad!.gamepads;

  for (let i = 0; i < pads.length; i++) {
    const pad = pads[i];

    if (!pad || !pad.connected) continue;

    // Left stick
    if (pad.axes.length >= 2) {
      const axisX = pad.axes[0].getValue(); // -1 to 1
      const axisY = pad.axes[1].getValue();
      this.player.setVelocity(axisX * 200, axisY * 200);
    }

    // D-pad
    if (pad.buttons[12]?.isDown) this.player.setVelocityY(-160); // Up
    if (pad.buttons[13]?.isDown) this.player.setVelocityY(160);  // Down
    if (pad.buttons[14]?.isDown) this.player.setVelocityX(-160); // Left
    if (pad.buttons[15]?.isDown) this.player.setVelocityX(160);  // Right

    // Face buttons
    if (pad.buttons[0]?.isDown) this.player.jump();  // A/X
    if (pad.buttons[1]?.isDown) this.player.shoot(); // B/O

    // Shoulders
    if (pad.buttons[4]?.isDown) this.player.previousWeapon(); // L1
    if (pad.buttons[5]?.isDown) this.player.nextWeapon();     // R1
  }
}
```

### Level 5: Input Manager Class

```typescript
class InputManager {
  private keyboard: { cursors: Phaser.Types.Input.Keyboard.CursorKeys; wasd: any };
  private gamepadIndex = 0;
  private virtualJoystick = { active: false, x: 0, y: 0 };

  constructor(private scene: Phaser.Scene) {
    this.setupKeyboard();
    this.setupGamepad();
    this.setupVirtualControls();
  }

  private setupKeyboard() {
    this.keyboard = {
      cursors: this.scene.input.keyboard!.createCursorKeys(),
      wasd: this.scene.input.keyboard!.addKeys('W,A,S,D')
    };
  }

  private setupGamepad() {
    this.scene.input.gamepad!.on('connected', () => {
      this.gamepadIndex = 0;
    });
  }

  private setupVirtualControls() {
    if (this.scene.sys.game.device.os.android ||
        this.scene.sys.game.device.os.iOS) {
      // Setup virtual joystick (see Level 3)
    }
  }

  getMovement(): { x: number; y: number } {
    // Gamepad first
    const pad = this.scene.input.gamepad!.getPad(this.gamepadIndex);
    if (pad && pad.connected && pad.axes.length >= 2) {
      return {
        x: pad.axes[0].getValue(),
        y: pad.axes[1].getValue()
      };
    }

    // Virtual joystick second
    if (this.virtualJoystick.active) {
      return {
        x: this.virtualJoystick.x,
        y: this.virtualJoystick.y
      };
    }

    // Keyboard fallback
    let x = 0, y = 0;
    if (this.keyboard.cursors.left.isDown || this.keyboard.wasd.A.isDown) x = -1;
    if (this.keyboard.cursors.right.isDown || this.keyboard.wasd.D.isDown) x = 1;
    if (this.keyboard.cursors.up.isDown || this.keyboard.wasd.W.isDown) y = -1;
    if (this.keyboard.cursors.down.isDown || this.keyboard.wasd.S.isDown) y = 1;

    return { x, y };
  }

  isJumpPressed(): boolean {
    return this.keyboard.cursors.up.isDown ||
           this.keyboard.wasd.W.isDown ||
           (this.scene.input.gamepad!.getPad(this.gamepadIndex)?.buttons[0]?.isDown);
  }

  isAttackJustPressed(): boolean {
    return Phaser.Input.Keyboard.JustDown(
      this.scene.input.keyboard!.addKey('SPACE')
    ) || this.scene.input.gamepad!.getPad(this.gamepadIndex)?.buttons[1]?.justDown;
  }
}

// In scene
create() {
  this.inputManager = new InputManager(this);
}

update() {
  const move = this.inputManager.getMovement();
  this.player.setVelocity(move.x * 200, move.y * 200);

  if (this.inputManager.isJumpPressed()) {
    this.player.jump();
  }
}
```

## Anti-Patterns

❌ **DON'T:**

- Create new Key objects every frame - reuse from create()
- Ignore JustDown/JustUp for trigger actions
- Mix coordinate systems for input
- Forget pointer ID for multi-touch
- Hardcode only keyboard input
- Use polling for all input (use events when appropriate)

✅ **DO:**

- Create keys once in create()
- Use JustDown/JustUp for one-shot actions
- Normalize input vectors
- Track pointer IDs for multi-touch
- Support multiple input methods
- Combine event listeners with polling

## Code Patterns

### Key Combination Detection

```typescript
// Ctrl+Z to undo
this.input.keyboard!.on("keydown-Z", () => {
  const ctrlKey = this.input.keyboard!.checkDown(
    this.input.keyboard!.addKey("CTRL"),
    100,
  );

  if (ctrlKey) {
    this.undo();
  }
});

// Double tap detection
let lastTapTime = 0;
this.input.on("pointerdown", () => {
  const now = this.time.now;
  if (now - lastTapTime < 300) {
    this.doubleTap();
  }
  lastTapTime = now;
});
```

### Smooth Input Damping

```typescript
update() {
  // Smooth movement with lerp
  const targetX = this.input.activePointer.x;
  const targetY = this.input.activePointer.y;

  this.player.x = Phaser.Math.Linear(this.player.x, targetX, 0.1);
  this.player.y = Phaser.Math.Linear(this.player.y, targetY, 0.1);
}
```

## Checklist

- [ ] Keys created in create() not update()
- [ ] JustDown/JustUp used for triggers
- [ ] Multi-touch handled correctly
- [ ] Gamepad fallback to keyboard
- [ ] Virtual controls for mobile
- [ ] Input vectors normalized
- [ ] Dead zones applied to analog input

## Reference

- [Phaser Input](https://photonstorm.github.io/phaser3-docs/Phaser.Input.InputPlugin.html) — Input system
- [Keyboard Plugin](https://photonstorm.github.io/phaser3-docs/Phaser.Input.Keyboard.KeyboardPlugin.html) — Keyboard API
- [Gamepad Plugin](https://photonstorm.github.io/phaser3-docs/Phaser.Input.Gamepad.GamepadPlugin.html) — Gamepad API


---
Source attribution: feliperyba
Original project: https://github.com/feliperyba/ralph-orchestra/blob/7a74951367fe9bec093753f6eaa4d0eeda9428e5/.claude/skills/dev-phaser-input-handlers/SKILL.md
License: MIT
License information: https://opensource.org/license/mit
Original upstream instructions; downloaded from Dave AI.

## Upstream license notice

MIT License

Copyright (c) 2026 feliperyba

Permission is hereby granted, free of charge, to any person obtaining a copy
of this software and associated documentation files (the "Software"), to deal
in the Software without restriction, including without limitation the rights
to use, copy, modify, merge, publish, distribute, sublicense, and/or sell
copies of the Software, and to permit persons to whom the Software is
furnished to do so, subject to the following conditions:

The above copyright notice and this permission notice shall be included in all
copies or substantial portions of the Software.

THE SOFTWARE IS PROVIDED "AS IS", WITHOUT WARRANTY OF ANY KIND, EXPRESS OR
IMPLIED, INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO THE WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTABILITY,
FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE AND NONINFRINGEMENT. IN NO EVENT SHALL THE
AUTHORS OR COPYRIGHT HOLDERS BE LIABLE FOR ANY CLAIM, DAMAGES OR OTHER
LIABILITY, WHETHER IN AN ACTION OF CONTRACT, TORT OR OTHERWISE, ARISING FROM,
OUT OF OR IN CONNECTION WITH THE SOFTWARE OR THE USE OR OTHER DEALINGS IN THE
SOFTWARE.



# Dave AI resource metadata

Creator / publisher: feliperyba
Original project: https://github.com/feliperyba/ralph-orchestra/blob/7a74951367fe9bec093753f6eaa4d0eeda9428e5/.claude/skills/dev-phaser-input-handlers/SKILL.md
Attribution basis: Recovered original package and original project license at a pinned revision

Fields of work: Development & Engineering
Roles: Frontend Developer, Game Developer
Specialties: Frontend, Mobile
Tools: Phaser
Country applicability: Country not specified
Classification basis: Source catalog labels
Instruction SHA-256: 26e224cd7fbc11e692a1d03ccae636253f5323991d7aaf54e8f5cc1bc6d42e0e
Metadata reviewed: 2026-10-27
This metadata supersedes earlier Dave AI catalog attribution. Original instruction and supporting files are preserved.