The big Generals Zero Hour mods in 2026 are Contra, Rise of the Reds, ShockWave and Project Raptor. All of them are free, all install on top of Zero Hour 1.04, and the authors host them on ModDB and their own sites. Below is a table with the latest versions, links to the official pages, and which mods already run on a phone through ZeroFront.
Zero Hour mods list: versions and phone status
| Mod | What it is | Latest version | Official page | On a phone |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Contra 009 Final | Classic Contra: 12 generals, its own launcher, a tough AI | 009 Final Patch 3, last hotfix May 2022 | moddb.com/mods/contra | works, tested |
| Contra X | The new Contra branch, installed separately from 009 | X Beta 2 + Patch 1, October 2025 | moddb.com/mods/contra | on request |
| Contra 007 | The old 2009 release | 007 plus patches up to 2011 | moddb.com/mods/contra | works |
| Rise of the Reds | Five factions: Russia and the European Continental Alliance join USA, China and GLA | 1.87 (open beta), 1.9 in development | rotr.swr-productions.com | on request |
| ShockWave | Reworked Zero Hour generals plus three new ones | 1.201, March 2016 | shockwave.swr-productions.com | on request |
| Project Raptor: War Commanders | New vehicles, the BOSS general, long missions | 9.1.27, September 2026 | moddb.com/mods/generals-war-commanders | on request |
| Project Raptor (original) | The Militia faction | V10 Alpha 0.3, December 2019 | moddb.com/mods/project-raptor | on request |
"On request" means we haven't run that mod on a phone yet. Send its name and version to the bot, and we'll test it and get back to you.
The mods in brief
Contra
Contra is made by the Contra Mod Team and was one of the first mods for Zero Hour. It adds well over a hundred units, new buildings, general abilities and three new generals. The stable version most people play is 009 Final with Patch 3. It runs on Android in ZeroFront, and the details are on the Contra 009 on your phone page.
Since 2023 the team has been working on the Contra X branch. Right now that's Beta 2 with its first patch, and it installs from scratch without any older version. What changed compared to 009 is covered in the Contra X breakdown. People still search for the old Contra 007 out of nostalgia, although the authors stopped updating it long ago. In ZeroFront it runs on the phone alongside 009.
Rise of the Reds
ROTR by SWR Productions adds two new sides: a tank-heavy Russian Federation and a defensive European Continental Alliance. The original factions were reworked too, and there's a three-tier tech system. If you want Russia in Generals, start here. The easiest way to get version 1.87 is GenLauncher. Factions and setup are on the Rise of the Reds page.
ShockWave
Another SWR Productions project. ShockWave reworks the Zero Hour generals so they play more differently from each other and adds three new ones: Deathstrike, Ironside and Leang. You get over a hundred new units, its own music and a higher camera. The last public version, 1.201, came out in 2016. Installation and the 1.3 beta are covered in our ShockWave guide.
There's also ShockWave Chaos, a separate add-on by other authors. It goes on top of ShockWave 1.201 and breaks the balance on purpose: everything is so overpowered that it evens out again. It won't run without ShockWave.
Project Raptor
Two different projects share this name. The original Project Raptor dates back to 2005 and is now maintained by No Life Studios; its latest build is V10 Alpha 0.3. The second, Project Raptor: War Commanders, is still updated: version 9.1.27 came out in September 2026. When people search for version numbers like 9.1.22, this is the one they mean. The Project Raptor page explains the difference.
How to install Zero Hour mods on PC
Install order
- Install Generals and Zero Hour and make sure Zero Hour is patched to 1.04. Contra, ShockWave and Project Raptor all need it.
- Make a copy of your Zero Hour folder for the mod. Your clean game stays untouched, and a broken mod can be deleted together with its folder.
- Install the mod the way its authors describe. Some ship an .exe installer, others an archive you extract into the game folder.
- Launch the mod with its own launcher if it has one. Contra 009 has the Contra Launcher, ROTR has its own exe.
GenLauncher
GenLauncher downloads, installs, updates and launches Zero Hour mods. You drop its exe into the root of your game folder. It can keep several mods on one copy of the game and pulls in patches and add-ons on its own, such as extra language packs for Contra. For Rise of the Reds it's the shortest route to version 1.87.
Conflicts
The Contra authors call it a standalone mod: it doesn't work alongside other mods or third-party AI patches. The same goes for the rest: one mod per folder. Skip "Zero Hour + mod in one archive" repacks, since the files in them are often mixed up. Buy the game itself on Steam or the EA App; see where to get the game files.
Mods and multiplayer
In a network game, every player needs the exact same mod files, down to the last one. Otherwise the match falls apart with a mismatch. That's why the big mods have their own online solutions. The Contra 009 launcher has ContraVPN built in, so you can find opponents without manual setup. Rise of the Reds has had the SWR.net service since version 1.85, built right into the mod's exe.
Mod launchers and VPNs don't run on a phone. ZeroFront has tested Wi-Fi play between phones on the same network; the conditions are on the Wi-Fi and online play page. To play a mod together, both phones need the same mod folder.
How to load a mod in ZeroFront
In ZeroFront a mod is just another game folder. The original Generals stays as the base, because Zero Hour and mods take terrain textures from it.
- On your PC, prepare the mod folder: a copy of Zero Hour 1.04 plus the mod files. The mod must already be activated. For example, the Contra launcher renames the required archives from .ctr to .big, and there's no launcher on the phone.
- Copy the mod folder and the original Generals folder to your phone.
- In the app, open the Game data card. Tap "Original Generals folder…" and pick the base game, then tap "Set game folder" and pick the mod folder.
- Wait for the status to turn green and tap "Start game".
Pink ground in a mod means the original Generals folder isn't set. You can fix that in the same Game data card. If you don't have the app yet, start with the install guide.
FAQ
Which mod should I try first?
If you want a mod that definitely runs on a phone, go with Contra 009 Final and Patch 3. On PC, newcomers are usually pointed to Contra or Rise of the Reds: both have active communities and a clear install process.
Do mods work on a phone without a PC?
Mod installers are made for Windows, so it's easier to put the mod folder together on a computer and copy it over. After that ZeroFront runs it on its own, and you don't need the PC anymore.
Can I keep several mods on my phone?
Yes. Each mod lives in its own folder, and in the app you just switch the game folder. One original Generals folder serves all of them.
Will a mod that isn't on the list work?
We don't know yet. Send the mod name and version to the bot, we'll test it on a phone and reply. We won't promise anything upfront, because mods change very different parts of the game.
Where can I download mods without malware?
From the authors: ModDB and the teams' official sites, linked in the table above. Reuploads on file hosts are often outdated or carry someone else's edits, and then you spend hours hunting down the error.
How much does it cost?
The mods are free, the authors give them away. ZeroFront gives you 24 hours to test, then a 30-day or 90-day subscription. Current prices and payment options are in the bot, and the subscription page explains how it works.
Try Contra and other mods on your own phone in the bot @generals_mobile_bot: the first 24 hours are free.