The Pandemic meme category draws inspiration from both the popular cooperative board game and the strategy video game Plague Inc. These memes typically highlight the frustration of a rapidly spreading virus or the difficulty of infecting isolated regions like Greenland or Madagascar. During the early 2020s, these templates surged in popularity as people used dark humor to cope with real-world lockdowns and health protocols. The memes serve as a relatable way to discuss global health, travel restrictions, and the unexpected challenges of containing a theoretical—or literal—outbreak.