The 'Crucified Korok' meme emerged immediately following the release of The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom in 2023. As players discovered the Ultrahand ability, which allows for the fusing of objects, many chose to bypass the intended quest of reuniting stranded Koroks with their friends. Instead, players began constructing elaborate, often sadistic contraptions—most notably wooden crosses—to punish the forest spirits for their past annoyances in Breath of the Wild. This phenomenon became a viral sensation across social media, symbolizing the unhinged creativity of the Zelda player base and the dark humor inherent in sandbox physics.