The 'If You Don't Play Duke Nukem 3D, You Like Men' meme capitalizes on the hyper-masculine, over-the-top action hero persona of Duke, the protagonist of the iconic 1996 first-person shooter. Featuring a gritty, low-poly image of Duke delivering a blunt, aggressive ultimatum, the meme originates from early internet gaming forums where gatekeeping was often expressed through aggressive machismo. Over time, it has evolved into a staple of modern shitposting culture, used ironically on platforms like Discord and Twitter to satirize toxic masculinity or to celebrate the sheer absurdity of 90s action tropes. Its popularity lies in its versatility, as users frequently swap out the game or the punchline to fit different niche subcultures.