In Falsus Beginner Guide

• ▸Open OPTIONS → GAMEPLAY & UI first: Track Speed defaults to 2.00, Audio Offset to 0 — if your hits feel late or early, adjust Audio Offset before anything else.
• ▸In Falsus plays on two layers at once: steer the Cursor through Fields and Flick notes with your mouse up top, hit Tap/Hold notes on the keyboard below.
• ▸Missing a note costs 1 MSS HP and hits build it back — keep HP at 10 or above to clear the song.
• ▸The 'Prioritize Scenario vs Challenge Rhythm Game' choice only changes the initial tutorial. It locks nothing.

Every screenshot on this page comes from justonegamr's full In Falsus demo playthrough on PC, and every fact was verified against what the game itself shows on screen. Each image deep-links to the exact timestamp it was captured from.

The demo drops you onto the title screen with PLAY, OPTIONS and QUIT. Spend two minutes in OPTIONS before your first song — In Falsus reads your timing raw, so a clean baseline matters more here than in most rhythm games.

1. 1

   Set Note Behavior before you play

   OPTIONS → GAMEPLAY & UI → Note Behavior holds the two settings that decide how the game feels: Track Speed (default 2.00) and Audio Offset (default 0). If your EXACT hits keep landing late or early, nudge Audio Offset in small steps. Flipped Gameplay mirrors the lanes, and Gameplay Keybind Indicator prints the key letters on the lanes — leave it on while learning.

   

2. 2

   Learn the five keys plus two side keys

   The CONTROLS tab shows the default layout: LeftShift on the far-left side lane, A S D F on the middle lanes, Space on the far-right side lane, and Mouse Sensitivity (default 1.00) for the Cursor. Your keyboard hand covers A through F; the side lanes are reached with Shift and Space.

   

1. 3

   Pick Scenario or Rhythm Game priority

   On a fresh save the game asks you to choose: Prioritize Scenario or Challenge Rhythm Game. Read the fine print — the prompt states this option only affects the initial tutorial and does not limit your game experience. Nothing is locked either way, so pick the pace you prefer.

   

The tutorial song is Albedo by void (Mournfinale). It introduces one mechanic per screen — below is every lesson in the exact order the game teaches them, so you can follow along or review anything you skipped.

1. 4

   Start the tutorial and copy the hand placement

   Select Albedo and press Shift + Space to start. The game overlays translucent hands on the track to show the intended posture: fingers resting on A S D F with Shift and Space in reach, mouse hand free to roam the upper track.

   

2. 5

   Steer the Cursor with the mouse

   'Control the Cursor by moving your mouse left and right.' The Cursor rides the upper half of the track on its own line — there is no clicking involved, only lateral movement.

   

3. 6

   Sweep through Flick notes

   'As Flick notes approach, move the cursor through the note, starting at the small end and ending past the large end.' Flicks are directional: enter at the tapered end and carry the motion through, like a stroke rather than a tap.

   

4. 7

   Keep the Cursor inside Fields

   'Above, the cursor must be kept inside Fields until they reach the end.' Fields are the glowing zones on the upper track. Slide in early, stay inside until the Field ends, and only then leave — drifting out midway breaks it.

   

5. 8

   Hit lower notes on the keyboard

   'Below, notes are hit using your keyboard, utilizing the keys displayed.' The key letters are printed directly on the lanes — read the lane, not just the note, until the mapping is muscle memory.

   

6. 9

   Hold Hold notes to the very end

   'For Hold notes, maintain holding down the key until it reaches the end.' Releasing early breaks the Hold. The lane stays lit for the full duration — let go only when the tail clears the line.

   

7. 10

   Watch the two far side lanes

   'Notes can also approach down the two side lanes on the far left and right.' Those outer lanes are why the layout includes LeftShift and Space — when a note travels down the edge, use the side key instead of reaching across with A or F.

   

8. 11

   Protect your MSS HP

   'Missing a note reduces your MSS HP by 1. Build it back up by hitting notes successfully. Clear the song by keeping it at 10 or above.' One bad stretch won't end the run — but a collapse near the end will, so stabilize before chasing EXACTs.

   

1. 12

   Return to the Hub

   After the tutorial, Nia welcomes you to the Hub — your home base between dives. MUSIC PLAY opens free song selection, SCENARIO continues the story of The First Lie, and REPLAY TUTORIAL sits in the corner if you ever want a refresher.

   

2. 13

   Meet the CONNECT loadout

   Before an Encounter you assemble a five-card loadout on the CONNECT screen — the cards shown here belong to Nia and Freya. Cards modify how encounters play out; as a beginner, take the default hand and dive, then read our cards guide once the loop clicks.

   

→ Cards Explained