Balan Wonderworld became an internet sensation for all the wrong reasons following its release in early 2021. Developed by Sonic creator Yuji Naka, the game was heavily criticized for its confusing mechanics, single-button control scheme, and jarring CGI musical numbers. These elements quickly turned the game into a meme-goldmine, with players sharing clips of Balan’s unsettling smile and the awkward, unskippable victory dances. The meme is typically used to represent a 'so bad it's good' aesthetic or to ironically praise something that is clearly malfunctioning or poorly designed. Its legacy lives on more as a collection of surreal internet jokes than as a platforming title.