Controls and Best Settings

Meccha Chameleon was built around one simple idea from its developers: controls should never get in the way of the fun. You move, you paint, you pose and, as a Hunter, you aim and shoot. Still, a few minutes in the settings menu can make painting noticeably more precise, voice chat less chaotic and matchmaking far less frustrating. This guide covers the controls you use every round and the settings worth changing before your next match.

The Basic Controls

The game has a small set of actions, and most of them belong to the Hider. The table below lists the defaults most PC players report. Keybinds have changed between updates before, so if a key does not match your game, open the controls section of the settings and check the current binding.

Action	Commonly reported PC default	Used by
Move	W, A, S, D	Everyone
Open paint mode	F	Hider
Open pose menu	R	Hider
Rotate your model while painting	Middle mouse button	Hider
Pick or drop a colour	Space	Hider
Text chat	T	Everyone
Aim and shoot	Mouse	Hunter

One thing surprises many new players: there is no dedicated sprint. Your character moves at a steady pace, so getting to a good hiding spot quickly is about knowing the route, not holding a button.

Paint Mode Controls

Paint mode is where you will spend most of the hiding phase, so it pays to learn it properly.

• Colour picker and eyedropper. The colour picker lets you choose any shade, while the eyedropper copies a colour straight from the scenery. Use the eyedropper for almost everything; guessing colours by eye is the most common reason paint jobs look slightly off.
• Brush size. Large brushes are for base colours, small ones for edges, shadows and lines. Switch between them often instead of doing everything with one size.
• Rotating the model. Turn your character to reach every side you need to paint. Focus on the side Hunters will see from the room’s entrances.

Painting works with a mouse, a controller stick and, since update 4.1.1, the touch screen. Controller players benefit from several recent fixes: brush speed no longer depends on your framerate, the upward drift is gone and the cursor now returns to its place after you change brush size with the stick.

Poses and Camera

After painting, open the pose menu and choose a shape that fits the spot: curled up, lying flat or even clinging to a ceiling. A pose changes your silhouette far more than paint can, so treat it as part of the disguise rather than an afterthought. Update 4.1.0 also improved camera controls for Hiders during the hunt, which makes it easier to keep an eye on approaching Hunters without breaking your pose.

Hiders can also use a free camera to look around the map or follow a Hunter. It is a great way to stay calm during a long hunt, but remember that your body stays where you left it.

Settings Worth Changing Right Away

Voice chat

Since update 4.1.1, listening to voice chat is muted by default. If you want to hear the lobby, turn listening back on. You can also switch voice chat off entirely, and a microphone icon at the top of the screen shows when your mic is picking up sound. If you hide close to a Hunter, keep an eye on that icon.

Controller painting speed

Update 3.7.3 added a setting for movement speed while painting with a controller. Lower it for fine details, raise it if you struggle to cover your body in time. A middle value is a good starting point for most players.

Frame rate

The maximum FPS limit was raised to 240 in update 4.1.0. On a high refresh rate monitor, set the cap to match your display. On a weaker PC, a stable lower cap is better than a high one that keeps dropping, because stutter makes both painting and aiming harder.

Matchmaking options

• Region. You must select a region tag before searching. Pick the one closest to you, or the host’s region when playing with friends.
• Hide games in progress. This option is on by default and keeps you out of rounds that have already started. Leave it on unless you specifically want to spectate.
• Cross-play. Steam and Switch 2 players can share lobbies. If you only want to play with PC players, check the cross-play options.

Host Settings

If you host, you also control the match rules. The most important ones are:

Setting	What it changes	Tip
Map or map lottery	Which stage you play	Use simple maps for new players, busy ones for veterans
Hunter ammo	How many shots Hunters get	Fewer bullets reward careful Hunters
Body sizes	Whether Cube, Plump and Petit Chameleon are allowed	Petit can be frustrating for beginners
Forced taunts	How often Hiders must make a sound	Stops long rounds from stalling
Ban list	Removes disruptive players	The list resets when the server restarts

Playing on Controller

The game fully supports controllers, and on-screen button guides were adjusted in update 4.0.2 to show the right prompts. Painting with a stick takes some practice, but it is perfectly viable after the recent fixes. A few tips:

• Use a large brush for the base coat and only then switch to details.
• Lower the painting speed until you can trace an edge without overshooting.
• Paint with slow, straight strokes rather than quick flicks.
• On Switch 2, try the touch screen for the final details. It is much faster for lines and edges.

Quick Setup Checklist

1. Check the keybinds for paint mode, poses and colour picking.
2. Turn voice chat listening on or off, depending on how you like to play.
3. Set a frame rate cap your PC can hold steadily.
4. Adjust controller painting speed if you use a gamepad.
5. Select the nearest region and leave “hide games in progress” on.
6. If you host, set ammo and body sizes for your group before the first round.

Keep reading: How to Play: Beginner’s Guide and How to Play with Friends.