The Squid Game meme phenomenon emerged following the 2021 release of the South Korean survival drama on Netflix. The show's striking visual style and high-stakes games—particularly the 'Red Light, Green Light' sequence featuring the giant animatronic doll—immediately captured the internet's imagination. Memes typically revolve around the extreme tension of the games applied to relatable everyday struggles, or the emotional transformation of protagonist Seong Gi-hun. Whether highlighting the cruelty of capitalism or the panic of making a simple mistake, these templates have become a universal shorthand for navigating stressful situations with dark humor.