Generals Zero Hour controls on a phone with ZeroFront are built on gestures: a tap selects a unit and gives an order, dragging a finger draws a selection box, and the 0–9 control groups sit on a panel on the left. You don't need a mouse or keyboard. Below is the gesture table and what each gesture matches on PC.
Gestures and their PC equivalents
| Gesture on the phone | What it does | On PC |
|---|---|---|
| Tap a unit | select the unit | left click |
| Double-tap a unit | select all units of that type on screen | double click or the E key |
| Press and drag | box select | drag with the mouse |
| Tap the map with units selected | order: move, attack, build | click the target (left click in the classic scheme, right click in the alternate one) |
| Long press ~0.6 s or two-finger tap | deselect, cancel a build or ability | right click in the classic scheme |
| One finger on the map | move the camera | arrow keys or right-drag scrolling |
| Two fingers | pan and zoom | mouse wheel |
| Hold an interface button | show its tooltip without pressing it | mouse hover |
| Back button | pause menu | Esc |
Edge scrolling is off. On PC the map moves when the cursor hits the edge, but on a phone your thumb rests near the edge all the time, and the camera would keep drifting on its own.
Selecting and giving orders
The basic loop is the same as with a mouse. Tap a tank, then a spot on the map, and it drives there. Tap an enemy building with units selected and they attack it.
Double-tap is handy when you start an assault: one double-tap on a Crusader and every Crusader on screen is selected. For a mixed group, use a box: press on an empty spot and drag.
There are two ways to clear the selection: hold your finger on the map for about 0.6 seconds, or touch the screen with two fingers. The same gesture cancels a build or an ability if you change your mind.
Camera
One finger moves the camera across the map. With two fingers you move it and change the zoom at the same time. Zoom works like the mouse wheel on PC.
Control group panel: your Ctrl + number
On the left of the screen there's a panel with an "=" button and 0–9. It replaces the control group hotkeys from Generals Zero Hour.
| Action on the panel | Result | On PC |
|---|---|---|
| Tap an empty group | save the current selection to the group | Ctrl + number |
| Tap a used group | select the group | number |
| Double-tap a group | select it and jump the camera there | double-press the number |
| Hold until it fills red | clear the group | none |
In practice it pays to sort your army right away: tanks on 1, aircraft on 2, infantry on 3. Then run the fight by tapping the panel, and a double-tap snaps the camera to the group you need. Clearing by holding protects you from wiping a group by accident: until the button turns red, the group stays.
Tooltips and menu
On a phone you can't hover over build and ability buttons like you do with a cursor. So holding a button shows its description and doesn't trigger it. That way you can check what an unfamiliar upgrade does without spending money.
The Android Back button opens the pause menu, same as Esc on PC.
If you haven't installed the game yet, start with the install guide. The same gestures work in multiplayer; we covered LAN and online play on phones separately. And in Contra 009 on Android you get more units, which is where control groups really help.
FAQ
Can I connect a mouse or a gamepad?
ZeroFront's control scheme only covers touch gestures. We don't promise anything about a mouse or gamepad.
How do I cancel a building?
Hold your finger on the screen for about 0.6 seconds or tap with two fingers. The gesture cancels the build or the ability you started to use.
Why doesn't the camera move when my finger is near the edge?
We turned edge scrolling off on purpose. Drag the camera with one finger on the map or with two fingers.
How do I delete a control group?
Hold the group's button on the left panel until it fills red. The group is then empty.
You can check how well finger controls work on your own phone: the APK is in @generals_mobile_bot, and the first 24 hours are free.