The Only Up! meme originated from the 2023 3D platformer game that became a sensation among Twitch streamers and YouTubers for its punishing difficulty. The game's premise—climbing a series of increasingly precarious objects without checkpoints—leads to moments of extreme tension followed by devastating setbacks when a player falls back to the very beginning. As a meme, it represents the precarious nature of progress, the 'grind' culture, and the sheer frustration of losing everything in an instant. It is widely used to illustrate personal goals, crypto volatility, or any situation where one small mistake can undo hours of grueling effort.