The Downcast Dark Souls meme features a knight, typically the player character from the notoriously difficult FromSoftware series, sitting in a posture of total defeat and melancholy. Originating from the series' famously grim atmosphere and its 'You Died' culture, this image became a symbol for gamers and non-gamers alike to express exhaustion, depression, or the crushing weight of reality. Whether it's a knight slumped against a wall or staring into a dying bonfire, the template resonates because it perfectly captures the universal feeling of wanting to give up after a long, hard-fought battle.