In Creature Kitchen, an atmospheric cooking simulator developed and published by The Rat Zone, players experiencing an issue where they cannot move or select things are encountering an input softlock tied to configuration files. This bug can prevent player character movement via WASD or gamepads, freeze main menu selections, and lock the pause menu. Developer patch notes confirm this behavior stems from corrupt settings files, which an official update was designed to automatically scan and repair.

Symptoms of the Movement and Selection Glitch

According to player reports on the official Steam Community forums, the bug manifests in several specific ways across both keyboard and controller setups:

  • Inability to interact with the main menu upon initial launch, preventing players from clicking or selecting New Game.
  • Spawning into the game where WASD movement keys do not work, even while auxiliary inputs like the flashlight remain functional.
  • Opening the pause menu only to find that settings options cannot be modified and the Resume button cannot be clicked.
  • Sluggish or completely blocked movement occurring on both PC keyboard controls and connected PlayStation 5 controllers.

While restarting the client temporarily resolved the initial main menu lock for some players, the movement freeze frequently returned immediately upon loading into the actual gameplay space.

The Official Fix: Version 1.0.12 Update

The developer addressed this softlock in the Version 1.0.12 patch.

In the official update notes for Version 1.0.12, The Rat Zone confirmed that corrupt settings files were causing softlocks that blocked player movement. The patch updated both the full release of Creature Kitchen and the Steam demo to automatically check for and repair corrupt settings files upon launch.

To resolve the issue using the official fix:

  1. Close Creature Kitchen completely.
  2. Open your Steam client and navigate to your Library.
  3. Allow Steam to download and apply the latest updates (ensure the build is at least Version 1.0.12 or newer).
  4. Launch the game so the automatic settings verification routine can repair any damaged configuration files.

Beyond the general movement freeze fixed in Version 1.0.12, players have occasionally confused intended interaction rules or device-specific updates with input bugs.

Steam Deck and Peripheral Compatibility

The developer previously released a dedicated update adding Steam Deck Keyboard + Mouse Support. The game natively supports full controller input—including DualShock and DualSense controllers—as well as standard Windows keyboard setups. If custom mappings or hardware profiles conflict, updating the client ensures all peripheral routines match the current build.

Holding Items at Cooking Stations

In community troubleshooting discussions, players reported instances where kitchen stations, such as the mixer or the trash bin, appeared unresponsive to clicks. Developer The Rat Zone clarified that certain appliances cannot be emptied or interacted with if the player is already holding an item. To withdraw a blended ingredient or slop from the mixer, the player character's hands must be empty when clicking the machine.

What to Do If Controls Remain Unresponsive

If your installation is updated past Version 1.0.12 and controls still fail to register, verify your game files through Steam to ensure all executable assets are intact:

  1. Right-click Creature Kitchen in your Steam Library.
  2. Select Properties, then navigate to the Installed Files tab.
  3. Click Verify integrity of game files.

If settings corruption persists or new input lockups occur, The Rat Zone maintains an official Discord server linked in their Steam announcements, as well as an active Steam Community discussion hub where bug reports are monitored.