It's More Than A Game
Gaming's funniest moments never stay contained within the screen. They leak into our vocabulary, social media feeds, and everyday conversations. Then come unforgettable memes, which rise beyond their modest beginnings to become universally recognized cultural icons. Let's look at 20 iconic gaming memes that took the internet by storm.
GTA SA: Big Smoke's Order [1080p60 Reupload] by james227uk
1. All Your Base Are Belong to Us
Remember that bizarre phrase that invaded internet culture? It originated from the hilariously poor English translation in Toaplan's 1991 Sega Mega Drive game Zero Wing. The opening cutscene's mangled dialogue became gaming's first viral sensation years before YouTube existed.
Zero Wing Arcade Intro (2023 Steam/GOG) - English Version by Bitwave Games
2. It's Dangerous To Go Alone! Take This.
The old man's gift of a wooden sword marked the beginning of countless adventures. This phrase from The Legend of Zelda transcended its origins to become cultural shorthand for taking on difficult journeys. Even non-gamers recognize this quintessential gaming quote.
The Legend of Zelda Its dangerous to go alone, take this! by Ruben Crispin (Rubetoman)
3. Do A Barrel Roll!
Google once incorporated this meme as an Easter egg that made search results spin when users typed the phrase. Originating from Star Fox 64, Peppy Hare's urgent advice to avoid enemy fire became gaming's favorite piece of unnecessary guidance that people still use.
Star Fox 64-Do A Barrel Roll! by LaxCommander
4. The Cake Is A Lie
Released in 2007, Portal's antagonist GLaDOS used cake as motivation while players gradually discovered the devastating truth. The phrase perfectly captured online skepticism. It became so ubiquitous that even non-gamers adopted it to express distrust of too-good-to-be-true offers.
The Cake Is A Lie by FragFestFTW
5. Press F To Pay Respects
Call of Duty: Advanced Warfare's 2014 attempt at emotional gameplay backfired spectacularly. This occurred when it reduced mourning to a button prompt. Gaming's most unintentionally hilarious moment converted "F" into universal internet shorthand for acknowledging losses both serious and trivial.
Press F to Pay Respects by Happening.tv
6. I Took An Arrow In The Knee
"I used to be an adventurer like you..." began the dialogue that would be repeated countless times across Bethesda's 2011 RPG masterpiece. The inexplicable frequency of this specific injury in Tamriel's security forces launched parodies and even Halloween costumes.
7. Finish Him!
Mortal Kombat's announcer created gaming's most recognizable two-word command, perfect for any situation demanding decisive action. The 1992 fighting game sensation single-handedly sparked the video game violence debate that led to the ESRB rating system. This phrase still echoes through gaming culture.
Mortal Kombat X - Finish Him! by duel duelson
8. Hadouken!
That blue energy blast that Ryu and Ken throw out has become the ultimate special move in fighting games. Ever since it showed up in 1991, you can spot that quarter-circle-forward punch combo everywhere. These include music videos and sports celebrations.
When Ryu Spamming Hadouken... by GoGa No Commentary
9. You Died
Dark Souls revolutionized gaming's approach to difficulty with its unforgiving yet fair challenges. The stark, blood-red announcement came to represent crushing difficulty in gaming conversations. No other game notification has inspired such a blend of frustration, determination, and eventual triumph.
10. Wombo Combo!
The gaming community witnessed esports history during the electrifying Super Smash Bros. Melee doubles match. Commentators' hysterical reaction to a perfect team combo at a 2008 tournament created competitive gaming's most iconic callout. The line "that ain't Falco!" captured the raw excitement.
[Reenactment] WOMBO COMBO!!!! by dannyrom288
11. Oof
Every day, several Roblox players hear this distinctive death sound. Originally just a simple audio cue, this peculiar noise transcended its platform to become internet slang for any awkward or painful situation. It was originally created by Tommy Tallarico in 2000.
ROBLOX death sound origin by PJB
12. Sus
Among Us skyrocketed from obscurity to a global phenomenon during the pandemic lockdowns of 2020. Though released in 2018, this indie game's vocabulary dominated internet culture two years later. The shortened form of "suspicious" became a universal shorthand for questionable behavior.
Expert Lobby... Among Us Impostor Gameplay On The Skeld by Sniper Rifle
13. Leeroy Jenkins
Friends Ben Schulz and Ben Vinson had no idea their funny, staged clip would end up being the ultimate example of going all out and having fun. The battle cry "LEEEEROOOOY JENKINS!" continues to symbolize throwing caution to the wind in any situation.
What Happened To Leeroy Jenkins? (World of Warcraft) by vaulty
14. You Must Construct Additional Pylons
StarCraft players know that panic-inducing moment when resources run low. Blizzard's 1998 real-time strategy classic gave rise to this error message, signaling an insufficient supply for your growing Protoss army. This is now used as a catchphrase for the absence of infrastructure or resources on the internet.
You Must Construct Additional Zerg Rushes - Gaming Meme History by GameSpot
15. Why Can't Metroid Crawl?
A confused player, not realizing that Samus Aran isn't named "Metroid," created unintentional comedy gold. The 2013 post about Super Metroid sparked endless jokes about gaming literacy. This earnest question turned into a joke for newcomers misunderstanding fundamental gaming knowledge.
[Longplay] SNES - Super Metroid [100%] (4K, 60FPS) by xRavenXP
16. Snake? Snake?! SNAAAAKE!
Dramatic death sequences don't get more iconic than Colonel Campbell's increasingly panicked radio calls. Metal Gear Solid's game over screen featured this escalating voice performance. Apparently, voice actor Paul Eiding's work became gaming's ultimate expression of mounting concern.
17. Gabe Newell Can't Count To Three
Half-Life 2: Episode 2 (2007) ended on a cliffhanger, remaining unresolved. The joke evolved from frustrated fan complaints into affectionate ribbing of Valve's founder. This meme represents gaming's unique relationship with unfinished stories, as players simultaneously mock and desperately hope for sequels.
GabeN Can't Count to 3 by MechaAdolf889
18. Big Smoke's Order
Fast food orders usually don't become cultural touchstones, but Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas changed that. "I'll have two number 9s..." began the absurdly long order that demonstrated Big Smoke's gluttony. Rockstar Games' attention to character-building details made this 2004 cutscene a standout moment.
GTA SA: Big Smoke's Order [1080p60 Reupload] by james227uk
19. Baka Mitai / Dame Da Ne
The sad song "Baka Mitai" turned into the go-to track for tons of deepfake videos in 2020. This first appeared in Yakuza O and Yakuza 5. However, it gained popularity as a meme when AI face-mapping technology enabled people to make anyone’s picture “sing” it.
Kiryu & Sayama - Yakuza GMV - Baka Mitai by Pure Love in Kamurocho
20. NPC Energy
Beyond video games, the term "non-player characters" came to refer to individuals who appear to follow preset plots. The phrase connects the virtual and real worlds. It employs gaming terms to characterize people who appear to lack independent thought or genuine answers.
