The Sonic Forces meme trend stems from the 2017 SEGA game of the same name, which introduced the concept of a custom player avatar alongside Modern and Classic Sonic. The internet quickly latched onto the game’s overly serious tone and the edgy aesthetic of its main antagonist, Infinite. Common variations involve mocking the dramatic Join the Resistance tagline, parodying the custom character designs, or highlighting the contrast between the various Sonic eras. It is widely used to joke about fan-made original characters or to poke fun at the dramatic shifts in the Sonic franchise's storytelling style.