ftlhelm is a gamepad layer for FTL: Faster Than Light on Linux, written in Rust. It loads when the game launches and maps controller inputs to the game's existing mouse and keyboard controls. Features include D-pad navigation between zones, radial wheels for weapons, crew and systems, and zoom and larger text for small screens. The game files remain untouched.
- Zones: the D-pad and sticks jump between rooms, doors, event choices, beacons and buttons
- Wheels for weapons, crew, systems, ship orders and abilities, in the game's own art
- Small screens, on by default below 1280x720:
- Zoom: the ship view magnified around the cursor; the map, ship and store screens enlarged to fit
- Text size: event boxes and tooltips 1 to 2 times the game's own
- Fast forward while a button is held
- Mouse mode: the D-pad and sticks move the game's cursor freely
- Remappable: tap and hold actions on every button, wheels and their plates in
ftlhelm.ini, re-read while the game runs
| Button | Tap | Hold |
|---|---|---|
| D-pad, sticks | the next zone that way | |
| A | click | drag |
| B | cancel, back | abilities wheel |
| X | arm the next weapon | weapons wheel |
| Y | next crew member | crew wheel |
| L1 | previous tab | systems wheel |
| R1 | next tab | ship orders wheel |
| L2 | toggle the room's doors | doors become the zones |
| R2 | beacon map | fast forward |
| L3, R3 | mouse mode on, off | |
| Start | pause | whole frame while zoomed |
| Select | settings wheel | game menu |
Tap Select in the game for the settings wheel: mouse mode, zoom, text size and the controls table.
Requires the native Linux build of FTL: 1.6.13 from Steam or 1.6.12 from GOG, and glibc 2.35 or later. The Windows and macOS builds are not supported. On another Linux build, ftlhelm stays inactive and the game runs without it.
Download ftlhelm-linux-x86_64.tar.gz from the latest release and unpack it anywhere, e.g. ~/ftlhelm/. ftlhelm.sh expects the other files next to it.
-
In FTL's Properties > General > Launch Options, enter:
~/ftlhelm/ftlhelm-linux-x86_64/ftlhelm.sh %command% -
In Properties > Controller, set Steam Input to Disabled for FTL.
-
In Properties > Compatibility, leave Force the use of a specific Steam Play compatibility tool off.
~/ftlhelm/ftlhelm-linux-x86_64/ftlhelm.sh "/path/to/the GOG install/start.sh"
A Steam copy runs from its own directory:
cd "/path/to/FTL Faster Than Light"
~/ftlhelm/ftlhelm-linux-x86_64/ftlhelm.sh ./FTL
If ftlhelm does not start, see Troubleshooting.
- Controls: zones, doors, mouse mode, wheels, zoom, text size
- Configuration: settings, bindings, wheels, environment variables
- Troubleshooting: the log and what its lines mean
- Building: build commands, CI, test channel
If you find the project useful, here is how you can help:
- Tell other people about it. Sharing the project helps it reach more users.
- Report bugs and request features in Issues. Feedback is welcome.
- Star the repo. It helps the project get noticed and keeps me motivated.
- Buy me a coffee on Ko-fi.
Copyright (C) 2026 Maxim Gorin. ftlhelm is free software under the GNU General Public License v3.0 or later, with the additional terms in NOTICE.
ftlhelm is an unofficial mod, not affiliated with or endorsed by Subset Games. FTL: Faster Than Light is a trademark of Subset Games.