diff --git a/config/config.go b/config/config.go
index e4f8557..cc1e827 100644
--- a/config/config.go
+++ b/config/config.go
@@ -9,6 +9,7 @@ import (
 	"github.com/knadh/koanf"
 	"github.com/knadh/koanf/providers/env"
 	"github.com/knadh/koanf/providers/posflag"
+	input "github.com/quasilyte/ebitengine-input"
 	flag "github.com/spf13/pflag"
 )
 
@@ -22,11 +23,26 @@ type Config struct {
 	Loglevel   string `koanf:"loglevel"`
 	Debug      bool   `koanf:"debug"` // loglevel=debug
 	Startlevel int
+	Keymap     input.Keymap `koanf:"keymap"` // we put it here so we can eventually customize it later
 }
 
 func InitConfig() (*Config, error) {
 	var kloader = koanf.New(".")
 
+	// Load default values using the confmap provider.
+	/*
+		if err := kloader.Load(confmap.Provider(map[string]interface{}{
+			"keymap": input.Keymap{
+				InputMoveLeft:  {input.KeyGamepadLeft, input.KeyLeft, input.KeyA},
+				InputMoveRight: {input.KeyGamepadRight, input.KeyRight, input.KeyD},
+				InputMoveUp:    {input.KeyGamepadUp, input.KeyUp, input.KeyW},
+				InputMoveDown:  {input.KeyGamepadDown, input.KeyDown, input.KeyS},
+			},
+		}, "."), nil); err != nil {
+			return nil, fmt.Errorf("failed to load default values into koanf: %w", err)
+		}
+	*/
+
 	flagset := flag.NewFlagSet("config", flag.ContinueOnError)
 	flagset.BoolP("debug", "d", false, "enable debug log")
 
@@ -72,6 +88,17 @@ func InitConfig() (*Config, error) {
 		conf.Startlevel = level
 	}
 
+	conf.Keymap = input.Keymap{
+		MoveLeft:     {input.KeyGamepadLeft, input.KeyLeft, input.KeyA},
+		MoveRight:    {input.KeyGamepadRight, input.KeyRight, input.KeyD},
+		MoveUp:       {input.KeyGamepadUp, input.KeyUp, input.KeyW},
+		MoveDown:     {input.KeyGamepadDown, input.KeyDown, input.KeyS},
+		SwitchPlayer: {input.KeyTab},
+		Abort:        {input.KeyEscape},
+		Activate:     {input.KeyEnter, input.KeyMouseLeft},
+		Any:          {},
+	}
+
 	return conf, nil
 
 }
diff --git a/config/static.go b/config/static.go
index a7e0e61..28ae3d7 100644
--- a/config/static.go
+++ b/config/static.go
@@ -3,6 +3,8 @@ package config
 import (
 	"image/color"
 	"time"
+
+	input "github.com/quasilyte/ebitengine-input"
 )
 
 const (
@@ -33,3 +35,14 @@ var VERSION string // maintained by -x
 
 var FontColorFG = color.RGBA{0, 255, 128, 255} // blue
 //var FontColorFG = color.RGBA{117, 167, 67, 255} // green
+
+const (
+	MoveLeft input.Action = iota
+	MoveRight
+	MoveUp
+	MoveDown
+	SwitchPlayer
+	Abort
+	Activate
+	Any
+)
diff --git a/game/game.go b/game/game.go
index e53f77c..d178bfa 100644
--- a/game/game.go
+++ b/game/game.go
@@ -9,6 +9,7 @@ import (
 
 	"github.com/hajimehoshi/ebiten/v2"
 	"github.com/mlange-42/arche/ecs"
+	input "github.com/quasilyte/ebitengine-input"
 )
 
 type Game struct {
@@ -20,6 +21,8 @@ type Game struct {
 	Observer                            *observers.GameObserver
 	Levels                              []*Level // fed in PlayScene.GenerateLevels()
 	Config                              *config.Config
+	InputSystem                         input.System
+	Input                               *input.Handler
 }
 
 func NewGame(width, height, cellsize int, cfg *config.Config, startscene SceneName) *Game {
@@ -38,6 +41,12 @@ func NewGame(width, height, cellsize int, cfg *config.Config, startscene SceneNa
 	game.Observer = observers.NewGameObserver(
 		&world, cfg.Startlevel, width, height, cellsize)
 
+	game.InputSystem.Init(input.SystemConfig{
+		DevicesEnabled: input.AnyDevice,
+	})
+
+	game.Input = game.InputSystem.NewHandler(0, game.Config.Keymap)
+
 	game.Scenes[Welcome] = NewWelcomeScene(game)
 	game.Scenes[Menu] = NewMenuScene(game)
 	game.Scenes[About] = NewAboutScene(game)
@@ -57,6 +66,9 @@ func (game *Game) GetCurrentScene() Scene {
 }
 
 func (game *Game) Update() error {
+	// update ebitengine-input
+	game.InputSystem.Update()
+
 	// handle level ends
 	timer := game.Observer.StopTimer
 
diff --git a/game/levels.go b/game/levels.go
index b5a01fd..a880fb1 100644
--- a/game/levels.go
+++ b/game/levels.go
@@ -49,7 +49,8 @@ func NewLevel(game *Game, cellsize int, plan *ldtkgo.Level) *Level {
 	systemlist = append(systemlist, systems.NewPairSystem(game.World, gridcontainer))
 
 	systemlist = append(systemlist,
-		systems.NewPlayerSystem(game.World, gridcontainer, game.ScreenWidth, game.ScreenHeight))
+		systems.NewPlayerSystem(game.World, gridcontainer,
+			game.ScreenWidth, game.ScreenHeight, game.Input))
 
 	systemlist = append(systemlist, systems.NewAnimationSystem(game.World, game.Cellsize))
 
diff --git a/game/play_scene.go b/game/play_scene.go
index 3785857..e898655 100644
--- a/game/play_scene.go
+++ b/game/play_scene.go
@@ -7,7 +7,6 @@ import (
 	"openquell/config"
 
 	"github.com/hajimehoshi/ebiten/v2"
-	"github.com/hajimehoshi/ebiten/v2/inpututil"
 )
 
 type PlayScene struct {
@@ -73,10 +72,10 @@ func (scene *PlayScene) Update() error {
 	scene.Levels[scene.CurrentLevel].Update()
 
 	switch {
-	case inpututil.IsKeyJustPressed(ebiten.KeyEscape):
+	case scene.Game.Input.ActionIsJustPressed(config.Abort):
 		scene.SetNext(Popup)
 
-	case inpututil.IsMouseButtonJustPressed(ebiten.MouseButtonLeft):
+	case scene.Game.Input.ActionIsJustPressed(config.Activate):
 		// ok we're checking the menu button here, but drawing it in hud_system,
 		// because systems can't switch scenes
 		if image.Pt(ebiten.CursorPosition()).In(scene.MenuRect) {
diff --git a/game/popup_scene.go b/game/popup_scene.go
index 676b1c6..c45816b 100644
--- a/game/popup_scene.go
+++ b/game/popup_scene.go
@@ -11,7 +11,6 @@ import (
 	"github.com/ebitenui/ebitenui/widget"
 
 	"github.com/hajimehoshi/ebiten/v2"
-	"github.com/hajimehoshi/ebiten/v2/inpututil"
 )
 
 type PopupScene struct {
@@ -53,7 +52,7 @@ func (scene *PopupScene) Clearscreen() bool {
 func (scene *PopupScene) Update() error {
 	scene.Ui.Update()
 
-	if inpututil.IsKeyJustPressed(ebiten.KeyEscape) {
+	if scene.Game.Input.ActionIsJustPressed(config.Abort) {
 		scene.SetNext(Play)
 	}
 
diff --git a/game/select_scene.go b/game/select_scene.go
index 7ba6035..cd7a599 100644
--- a/game/select_scene.go
+++ b/game/select_scene.go
@@ -14,7 +14,6 @@ import (
 	"github.com/ebitenui/ebitenui/widget"
 
 	"github.com/hajimehoshi/ebiten/v2"
-	"github.com/hajimehoshi/ebiten/v2/inpututil"
 )
 
 type SelectScene struct {
@@ -56,7 +55,7 @@ func (scene *SelectScene) Clearscreen() bool {
 func (scene *SelectScene) Update() error {
 	scene.Ui.Update()
 
-	if inpututil.IsKeyJustPressed(ebiten.KeyEscape) {
+	if scene.Game.Input.ActionIsJustPressed(config.Abort) {
 		scene.SetNext(Menu)
 	}
 
diff --git a/game/welcome_scene.go b/game/welcome_scene.go
index 6a76db3..e37716f 100644
--- a/game/welcome_scene.go
+++ b/game/welcome_scene.go
@@ -44,7 +44,7 @@ func (scene *WelcomeScene) Clearscreen() bool {
 
 func (scene *WelcomeScene) Update() error {
 	switch {
-	case ebiten.IsKeyPressed(ebiten.KeyEnter):
+	case scene.Game.Input.AnyKeyJustPressed():
 		scene.SetNext(Menu)
 	}
 
diff --git a/go.mod b/go.mod
index e0792bb..3262603 100644
--- a/go.mod
+++ b/go.mod
@@ -25,6 +25,8 @@ require (
 	github.com/mitchellh/copystructure v1.2.0 // indirect
 	github.com/mitchellh/mapstructure v1.5.0 // indirect
 	github.com/mitchellh/reflectwalk v1.0.2 // indirect
+	github.com/quasilyte/ebitengine-input v0.9.2-0.20240402074358-f9ddd61e57f7 // indirect
+	github.com/quasilyte/gmath v0.0.0-20221217210116-fba37a2e15c7 // indirect
 	github.com/rogpeppe/go-internal v1.12.0 // indirect
 	github.com/tidwall/gjson v1.9.3 // indirect
 	github.com/tidwall/match v1.1.1 // indirect
diff --git a/go.sum b/go.sum
index 4b17ad9..c3a96b6 100644
--- a/go.sum
+++ b/go.sum
@@ -237,6 +237,12 @@ github.com/prometheus/procfs v0.0.0-20181005140218-185b4288413d/go.mod h1:c3At6R
 github.com/prometheus/procfs v0.0.2/go.mod h1:TjEm7ze935MbeOT/UhFTIMYKhuLP4wbCsTZCD3I8kEA=
 github.com/prometheus/procfs v0.1.3/go.mod h1:lV6e/gmhEcM9IjHGsFOCxxuZ+z1YqCvr4OA4YeYWdaU=
 github.com/prometheus/procfs v0.6.0/go.mod h1:cz+aTbrPOrUb4q7XlbU9ygM+/jj0fzG6c1xBZuNvfVA=
+github.com/quasilyte/ebitengine-input v0.9.1 h1:sN7jNDLfGn9ZY1lurD4d3oXIOmQbZwYPVpuo4DlsiG0=
+github.com/quasilyte/ebitengine-input v0.9.1/go.mod h1:xYkU+JqzWzjnVMolCIar0VFRly1TtjmEHfQWAoIan+o=
+github.com/quasilyte/ebitengine-input v0.9.2-0.20240402074358-f9ddd61e57f7 h1:A33dnktcYAmgrFPSofTgLUPAos/ToFU0gN2f9KZIiug=
+github.com/quasilyte/ebitengine-input v0.9.2-0.20240402074358-f9ddd61e57f7/go.mod h1:xYkU+JqzWzjnVMolCIar0VFRly1TtjmEHfQWAoIan+o=
+github.com/quasilyte/gmath v0.0.0-20221217210116-fba37a2e15c7 h1:mvIS9aGirkzuYmHHNWAP6sLRoA5VFaIzMoFdPmqgPdY=
+github.com/quasilyte/gmath v0.0.0-20221217210116-fba37a2e15c7/go.mod h1:EbI+KMbALSVE2s0YFOQpR4uj66zBh9ter5P4CBMSuvA=
 github.com/rhnvrm/simples3 v0.6.1/go.mod h1:Y+3vYm2V7Y4VijFoJHHTrja6OgPrJ2cBti8dPGkC3sA=
 github.com/rogpeppe/fastuuid v1.2.0/go.mod h1:jVj6XXZzXRy/MSR5jhDC/2q6DgLz+nrA6LYCDYWNEvQ=
 github.com/rogpeppe/go-internal v1.12.0 h1:exVL4IDcn6na9z1rAb56Vxr+CgyK3nn3O+epU5NdKM8=
diff --git a/systems/player_system.go b/systems/player_system.go
index d4ed6d0..e927ef6 100644
--- a/systems/player_system.go
+++ b/systems/player_system.go
@@ -12,9 +12,9 @@ import (
 
 	"github.com/hajimehoshi/ebiten/v2"
 	"github.com/hajimehoshi/ebiten/v2/ebitenutil"
-	"github.com/hajimehoshi/ebiten/v2/inpututil"
 	"github.com/mlange-42/arche/ecs"
 	"github.com/mlange-42/arche/generic"
+	input "github.com/quasilyte/ebitengine-input"
 )
 
 type PlayerSystem struct {
@@ -22,15 +22,18 @@ type PlayerSystem struct {
 	Selector      *generic.Filter4[Position, Velocity, Player, Renderable]
 	GridContainer *grid.GridContainer
 	Width, Height int
+	Input         *input.Handler
 }
 
-func NewPlayerSystem(world *ecs.World, gridcontainer *grid.GridContainer, width, height int) System {
+func NewPlayerSystem(world *ecs.World, gridcontainer *grid.GridContainer,
+	width, height int, handler *input.Handler) System {
 	system := &PlayerSystem{
 		Selector:      generic.NewFilter4[Position, Velocity, Player, Renderable](),
 		GridContainer: gridcontainer,
 		World:         world,
 		Width:         width,
 		Height:        height,
+		Input:         handler,
 	}
 
 	return system
@@ -167,7 +170,7 @@ func (system *PlayerSystem) SwitchPlayers() {
 				render.Image = player.SwitchSprite()
 			} else {
 				// many players, switch when requested
-				if inpututil.IsKeyJustPressed(ebiten.KeyTab) {
+				if system.Input.ActionIsJustPressed(SwitchPlayer) {
 					slog.Debug("switch players")
 					if player.IsPrimary {
 						player.IsPrimary = false
@@ -192,16 +195,16 @@ func (system *PlayerSystem) CheckMovement(
 
 	if !velocity.Moving() {
 		switch {
-		case inpututil.IsKeyJustPressed(ebiten.KeyRight):
+		case system.Input.ActionIsJustPressed(MoveRight):
 			velocity.Change(East)
 			moved = true
-		case inpututil.IsKeyJustPressed(ebiten.KeyLeft):
+		case system.Input.ActionIsJustPressed(MoveLeft):
 			velocity.Change(West)
 			moved = true
-		case inpututil.IsKeyJustPressed(ebiten.KeyDown):
+		case system.Input.ActionIsPressed(MoveDown):
 			velocity.Change(South)
 			moved = true
-		case inpututil.IsKeyJustPressed(ebiten.KeyUp):
+		case system.Input.ActionIsJustPressed(MoveUp):
 			velocity.Change(North)
 			moved = true
 		}