Hello Neighbor is a stealth horror game first released in 2017, in which players sneak around a neighbor's house while avoiding being caught. Creaking doors are part of its tense atmosphere, warning players that movement can give them away. Clips of those sounds spread through gameplay videos, horror edits, and meme compilations, where the squeak became a quick shorthand for sneaking and getting caught. It remains popular because it is instantly recognizable to players and works even without showing the game, much like a door knocking sound effect in a suspense scene.