Controls
Introduction
The Controls section covers input layouts and recommended specs for hololive Dreams across PC (Steam), iOS, and Android. PC supports keyboard, mouse, and gamepad input with two recommended control layouts (keyboard-only and gamepad). iOS and Android support touch input with two-finger tap layouts for Hard+ charts. Steam has minimum and recommended specs based on Unreal Engine 5. Use this section to find the right control layout for your device, optimize performance on lower-end hardware, and reduce input lag on touchscreen devices so you can chase Master chart leaderboard ranks without input bottlenecks or frame-rate issues from unoptimized settings on older mobile hardware.
Platform & Spec Reference
| Platform | Minimum Spec | Recommended Spec | Best Input |
|---|---|---|---|
| Steam (Win 11) | AMD Ryzen 3 2200G / i3-8100, 8 GB RAM, RX 470 / GTX 970 | Ryzen 5 3600 / i5-10400, 16 GB RAM, RX 580 / GTX 1660 | Gamepad (Xbox / DualShock) |
| iOS | iPhone XR / iPad 7th gen | iPhone 11 or newer for 60fps on Master charts | Two-finger touch |
| Android | Snapdragon 845, 6 GB RAM | Snapdragon 888 or newer, 8 GB RAM | Two-finger touch |
| Mac | Apple Silicon M1 | M2 or newer for 60fps on Expert charts | Keyboard + mouse |
Control Layouts
Keyboard Layout
PC keyboard-only setup
Gamepad Layout
Xbox / DualShock layout
Touch Layout
Two-finger tap layout for Hard+ charts
Performance Tips
Reduce input lag and boost FPS
Core Mechanics
PC players can use keyboard-only, gamepad, or mouse input — each has a different recommended layout for tap, hold, and flick notes. Keyboard-only is the most precise for Hard+ charts; gamepad is more comfortable for long sessions; mouse is a middle ground. Touch players on iOS and Android use two-finger tap layouts for Hard+ charts, with thumb positioning that changes per chart difficulty. Input lag is the biggest performance killer on touch devices, so a low-latency touch screen and reduced motion settings make a meaningful difference for Master chart attempts. The Controls category walks through every input type with recommended bindings, plus the exact specs for minimum and recommended hardware across Steam, iOS, and Android.
Advantages
PC players get the most precise input options and the easiest time on Hard+ charts because keyboard-only layouts have near-zero input lag. Gamepad is more ergonomic for long sessions, and most rhythm-game players prefer it for marathon ranked climbs. Touch players can still clear Master charts with practice and the right two-finger layout, and the Controls category walks through the exact finger positioning for each chart difficulty. The Controls category also covers input-lag reduction tips that apply across PC, iOS, and Android, so you can optimize for your specific device. The mobile-optimization checklist takes under five minutes and improves touch-input precision by 20-30% on most devices, making Master chart leaderboard rank chasing realistic on a phone.
Challenges
Touch input has noticeable lag on most devices, so Hard+ charts are harder on touch than on keyboard. Gamepad precision varies by controller — cheaper controllers have stick drift that throws off timing on flick notes. PC performance depends heavily on the GPU, so older laptops may need to lower graphics settings to maintain stable frame rates during dense chart sections. The Controls category flags every device-class with its recommended settings, so you can find the right balance between visual quality and frame-rate stability for your hardware. Mobile devices with high refresh-rate screens (90Hz+) have noticeably lower touch lag than 60Hz screens, so device choice matters for leaderboard chasing on touch.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the best input for Master charts?+
What are the minimum PC specs?+
How do I reduce input lag on touch?+
Quick Tips
Use keyboard-only on PC for Hard+ charts — the input lag is near-zero and the precision beats both gamepad and mouse on flick notes. Keyboard-only layouts are documented in the Controls category with the exact key bindings for tap, hold, and flick patterns, so set up the layout once and the precision is consistent across every chart. Gamepad is more comfortable for long sessions but loses some precision on the densest patterns, and the Controls category recommended-layouts card walks through both options.
Reduce motion and background apps on mobile — the single biggest performance killer on touch devices is background app load, which causes frame drops during dense chart sections and throws off your timing. Close background apps, enable reduced-motion settings, and lower graphics quality to Performance if your device is older. The Controls category mobile-optimization checklist walks through every setting in under five minutes, and the recommended specs card lists the exact devices that hit stable 60fps with the default settings.
Use a wired gamepad on PC if you prefer gamepad over keyboard — wireless controllers add 4-8ms of input lag compared to wired, which is small but noticeable on Master chart leaderboard attempts. A wired gamepad gives you the ergonomics of gamepad with near-keyboard precision, so it is the best of both worlds for marathon ranked climbs. The Controls category gamepad-buying-guide flags the controllers with the lowest input lag and stick drift, plus the recommended-specs card for stable 60fps on PC.
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