Sid Meier’s Alpha Centauri PC Controls & Hotkeys

by Fernando Diaz / Articles, Game Controls & Hotkeys, Misc. Guides / 09 Mar 2024

Sid Meier’s Alpha Centauri’s finally hit Steam… yep, those classic gems we’ve been missing are making a comeback. You get to stake your claim on an alien planet swirling around Alpha Centauri, which is, you know, our Sun’s next-door neighbor in space. Dropped back in ’99, it’s kinda like the cool cousin or the offshoot – heck, let’s say the spiritual heir – to the big deal that is Sid Meier’s Civilization series. Officially? No one said they’re related, but c’mon, anyone who’s ever hustled for a “scientific victory” in Civilization by sending that spaceship to Alpha Centauri ain’t fooling anyone… it’s pretty clear.

In this guide, we’re laying out all the controls & hotkey list to make your playthrough quicker & more efficient; don’t forget to bookmark it for later, might come in handy.

Keyboard Shortcuts & Hotkeys

Map Commands

V: Move units/View map

Z: Zoom in

X: Zoom out

Shift + Z: Standard zoom in

Shift + X: Standard zoom out

Ctrl + Z: Full zoom in

Ctrl + X: Full zoom out

Ctrl + Shift + X: Toggle flattened terrain

Ctrl + G: Toggle map & grid

Ctrl + Shift + G: Toggle base grid

Unit Action Commands

B: Construct Base (Colony Pod)

Shift + B: Join Base (Colony Pod)

B: Obliterate Base (Any Unit in Base)

F: Long Range Fire

I: Airdrop

O: Activate Special Ability

Shift + I: Psi Gate

O: Convoy Resources

D: Destroy Enhancements

Shift + D: Disband Unit

Shift + A: Automate Unit

P: Patrol

Ctrl + Shift + B: Automate Air Defense

G: Go to Base

Map Commands contd.

Ctrl + Shift + B: Show autoforward routes

Shift + P: Show patrol orders

T: Terrain Survey

Ctrl + N: Hide/Show Names & Production

Shift + N: Name Landmark

Ctrl + Shift + N: Erase Landmark

Ctrl + B: Locate Base

Bksp: Previous Cursor Position

Shift + Bksp: Next Cursor Position

C: Center screen

Terraform Commands

F: Cultivate Farm/Kelp Farm

F: Construct Soil Enricher (Over Farm)

M: Construct Mine/Mining Platform

S: Construct Solar Collector/Tidal Harness

R: Build Road

R: Build Road (Tube Over Road)

K: Construct Bunker

.: Construct Airbase

O: Construct Sensor Array

F: Remove Fungus

Ctrl + F: Plant Fungus

Shift + E: Construct Echelon Mirror

Shift + B: Construct Thermal Borehole

Q: Drill to Aquifer

]: Terraform UP

[: Terraform DOWN

_: Terraform LEVEL

Ctrl + Shift + F: Farm+Solar+Road

Ctrl + Shift + M: Farm+Mine+Road

Ctrl + R: Construct Road To

Ctrl + T: Construct Tube To

Shift + A: Fully Automate Former

Game Commands

F11: Switch To Detailed Menus

F11: Switch To Simple Menus

Ctrl + P: Preferences

Ctrl + O: Advanced Preferences

Ctrl + A: Automation Preferences

Ctrl + 1: Audio/Visual Preferences

Ctrl + M: Map Display Preferences

Ctrl + S: Save Game

Ctrl + L: Load Game

Shift + Q: Resign

Ctrl + Q: Quit

Hold Shift: Speed Up Game during AI turn

Multiplayer Game Commands

Ctrl + C: Chat

\ Hold: Voice Transmission

Bksp: Pause

Shift + T: Alter Time Controls

Ctrl + Enter: Zoom to Base Messages

Ctrl + Spacebar: Use Time Bonus

Ctrl + Enter: End Turn

Ctrl + Enter: Resume Turn

Base Commands

E: Social Engineering

Ctrl + R: Set Research Priorities

Shift + R: Change Research Goal

Ctrl + U: Design Workshop

F1: Datalinks

F2: Laboratories Status

F3: Energy Banks Status

F4: Base Operations Status

F5: Secret Project Data

F6: Orbital and Space Status

F7: Military Command Nexus

F8: Alpha Centauri Score

F9: View Monuments

F10: View Hall of Fame

F12: Communications and Protocol

,: Corner Global Energy Market

=: Review Scenario Objectives

Fernando Diaz

Fernando is doing what he always did, sharing his honest opinions about games whenever he can. The difference is now he is writing and not talking about it.
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