If you were anywhere near a screen in 2015, you probably remember the absolute frenzy when Felix Kjellberg, better known as PewDiePie, decided to launch his own video game. It wasn't just another cheap celebrity cash-in. PewDiePie: Legend of the Brofist actually turned out to be a surprisingly tight, difficult, and genuinely fun 2D platformer.
Honestly, most "influencer" games are hot garbage. They’re usually rushed mobile apps designed to suck pennies out of fans through microtransactions. But Outerminds, the Canadian indie studio behind this one, went a completely different direction. They built a game that felt like a love letter to the NES era, and it paid off. Within two hours of hitting the App Store, it was the top-grossing paid game in the US.
What actually happens in the game?
The plot is as chaotic as a 2015 YouTube thumbnail. You play as PewDiePie (or eventually other unlocked creators) whose fans have been kidnapped by an army of evil barrels. Why barrels? Because back then, barrels were Pewds' mortal enemies. It’s a bit of a "you had to be there" moment, but it worked.
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You spend the game jumping through levels that reference different eras of his channel. You’ve got flying unicorns, exploding cows, and a "Pug Mode" that involves his real-life dogs, Maya and Edgar. It’s weird. It’s loud. It’s exactly what the "Bro Army" wanted.
Why it actually worked
The secret sauce was the lack of greed. Instead of being free-to-play with 100 different currencies, it was a premium game. You paid a few bucks upfront and that was it. No ads popping up every thirty seconds. No "energy" bars forcing you to wait to play.
You collect Brocoins by actually playing. You use those coins to buy:
- New characters (Markiplier, Jacksepticeye, Marzia).
- Special attacks (like a literal farting pug).
- Defense upgrades.
The difficulty was another shock. If you play on "Bro" mode, the game is punishing. It’s full of instant-death spikes and pixel-perfect jumps that would make a Dark Souls player sweat. Outerminds clearly knew that PewDiePie’s audience grew up playing games, so they didn't treat them like toddlers.
The technical side of the Brofist
Developed in the Unity engine, the game was originally meant for mobile but eventually migrated to PC and Mac via Steam. It’s got this great chiptune soundtrack by RushJet1 that nails the retro vibe.
One thing people often forget is the voice acting. This wasn't just some sound-alike. Felix, Marzia, Ken, Jack, and Mark all recorded their own lines. It added a level of authenticity that made it feel less like a product and more like a community project.
PewDiePie: Legend of the Brofist in 2026
Is it still worth playing today? Kinda, yeah. If you can get it to run.
The game hasn't seen a major update in years. On modern iPhones or Android devices, you might run into some weird scaling issues or crashes because the software is over a decade old at this point. However, the Steam version is still fairly stable, and it even works on the Steam Deck with a bit of tweaking.
The legacy of this game is basically how it paved the way for Outerminds to keep working with Felix on things like Tuber Simulator and Pixelings. It proved that YouTubers could actually release "real" games if they partnered with the right developers.
Quick Facts for the Fans
- Release Date: September 24, 2015 (Mobile), December 10, 2015 (PC).
- Price: Usually sits around $5 to $8 depending on the platform.
- Top Secret: There’s a hidden character—the Duck. You have to find a specific secret area to unlock it.
- Best Strategy: If you're struggling for coins, speedrun the "Hurry Up!" level on the hardest difficulty you can handle. You'll bank a few hundred Brocoins in minutes.
Actionable next steps for players
If you’re feeling nostalgic or just curious about YouTube history, here is how you can still dive in:
- Check Compatibility: Before buying on mobile, check the "Last Updated" section in the App Store or Play Store. If your phone is running the absolute latest OS, it might be buggy.
- Grab the Steam Version: If you want the most stable experience, go with PC. It supports controllers and has local co-op, which the original mobile version lacked.
- Mute the Farts: If you’re playing in public, maybe turn the sound down. The "Pug Attack" sound effects are exactly what you think they are, and they are very loud.
- Follow Outerminds: If you like the style, check out their newer projects like the Turbo Kid game. They’ve evolved a lot since the Brofist days.
The game is a time capsule. It captures a specific moment in internet history when the biggest star on the planet was obsessed with pugs and fighting wooden barrels. It’s a bit janky by today’s standards, but the heart is still there.