The 'EarthBound-inspired indie game about depression' meme serves as a humorous critique of a prevalent trend within the independent game development scene. Following the massive success of genre-defining titles like Undertale, Lisa: The Painful, and Omori, the internet began to notice an influx of pixel-art RPGs that used the colorful, nostalgic aesthetic of the Mother series as a 'Trojan horse' for heavy themes like trauma, mental illness, and existential horror. The meme usually highlights the predictable contrast between a 'quirky' art style and a crushing emotional narrative. It is frequently used by gamers and developers alike to acknowledge the saturation of this specific subgenre while celebrating its unique, albeit predictable, storytelling mechanics.