Meet Dan, Josie, and the World They Fight For
Dan The Man may look like a classic side-scroller, but it brings something extra: a story-driven adventure born from Studio JOHO’s cult web series. Recognizing the potential, Halfbrick Studios partnered with JOHO to expand the idea into a full game, blending the series’ tongue-in-cheek humor with the polish of a modern platformer. What began as a parody of arcade classics grew into a narrative about an unlikely hero, Dan, who must defend his village, his livelihood, and rescue his partner Josie, a fierce resistance fighter imprisoned early in the saga.
In its original release, the game introduced players to twelve missions of high-intensity combat, filled with goons, towering bosses, and hidden challenges. While the web version focuses on core modes rather than the full storyline, the DNA of the game remains central: fast-paced action, tight platforming, and a mix of humor and challenge that keeps players engaged.
At the same time, the design captures the retro spirit of side-scrollers while layering in modern touches. Crisp pixel art, a chiptune-inspired soundtrack, and hidden areas create nostalgia, while upgrades and combo-driven combat add freshness. Community feedback reinforces this mix. Players consistently praise its humor, “old-school energy,” and the replay value of recurring events, describing it as one of the most enjoyable platformers in years. For many, Dan The Man stands out as a game with personality and heart.
A Mobile Record Worth Talking About
Building on this strong foundation of design and community, the game’s performance on mobile speaks for itself. On Google Play, Dan The Man has surpassed 100 million installs, holds a 4.7-star rating, and has nearly two million reviews. The most recent major patch, released in August 2025, added online multiplayer, showing the game is still actively supported. On the App Store, it averages 4.8 stars from more than 156,000 ratings, runs across iPhone, iPad, and Apple TV, and is localized in more than a dozen languages. With Android and iOS updated in lockstep, Halfbrick ensures consistency across platforms.
Beyond raw numbers, these results highlight retention and global reach. For publishers, this demonstrates a title with the proven momentum to extend beyond app stores into browsers.
Moreover, Dan The Man is not the first Halfbrick title to reach browsers through Yes2Games and GameDistribution. Publishers can also access globally recognized hits like Fruit Ninja and Monster Dash in our portfolio. These proven franchises continue to attract players across platforms, giving publishers reliable brands supported by established fanbases.

The Enduring Appeal of Action Platformers
Action platformers sit at the intersection of accessibility and depth. The mechanics are easy to grasp: running, jumping, and fighting. Yet layers of hidden areas, boss battles, and upgrades reward repeat play.
This formula attracts a broad demographic. Younger players respond to the pace and competitive energy, while older audiences connect with the nostalgia of pixel art and side-scrolling action. Lightweight visuals make the genre playable everywhere, from budget Android phones to desktop browsers.
Industry trends point in the same direction. Hybrid-casual games are growing rapidly, as players seek more depth than hyper-casual titles without committing to mid-core complexity. With its fast-paced combat, replayable events, and accessible design, Dan The Man captures the qualities that make action platformers so enduring, and these strengths carry over seamlessly to the web version.

A Fanbase That Extends Beyond the App Stores
Unlike many mobile-first titles, Dan The Man began life as an animated web series. That origin gave it personality and an audience before it ever reached app stores. Today, the community remains engaged, sharing gameplay clips, fan art, and discussions around time-limited events like the recent Chicken God Challenge.
This continuity from web series to mobile game to active community has created a fanbase that is both invested and ready to follow the title into new platforms. For publishers, this means onboarding a game with an existing awareness loop that drives organic discovery.
Players now expect the same quality they see on mobile, but with instant access. Dan The Man delivers on both counts: quick to pick up yet deep enough to sustain long-term play. With strong ratings and the backing of Halfbrick, it brings proven credibility into the browser gaming space, now available in English for global audiences.
For GameDistribution, the title offers proven scale paired with ongoing relevance. For publishers, it represents more than another free-to-play action game. It is a recognized brand already performing across markets, now ready to reach an even wider audience.