The Sekiro 'Death' meme stems from the unforgiving difficulty of the 2019 FromSoftware title, Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice. Whenever the player character, Wolf, is defeated, a giant red kanji for 'Death' (死) appears prominently on the screen, accompanied by a distinct, heavy sound effect. This screen became a symbol of frustration and perseverance among gamers worldwide. In meme culture, the kanji is frequently replaced with humorous phrases like 'Skill Issue,' 'Mistakes Were Made,' or relatable real-life failures. Additionally, the quote 'Hesitation is Defeat' from the game's final boss, Isshin Ashina, is often paired with this template to mock poor decision-making or bad timing.