Stellaris memes are a cornerstone of the Paradox Interactive community, often blending dark humor with grand strategy mechanics. Centering on themes of xenophobia, extreme bureaucracy, and the 'end-game lag' caused by overpopulation, these memes often highlight the player's descent from a peaceful explorer into a ruthless galactic emperor. Popular tropes include the protection of the 'Bubbles' space amoeba, the aggressive 'Fanatic Purifier' ethic, and the running joke of performing planetary purges solely to improve game performance. These memes are widely shared on subreddits and Discord servers to satirize the complex and often morally questionable choices players make while managing their interstellar civilizations.