Sprunki began as a fan-made horror mod inspired by Incredibox, swapping its playful music-making with a dark horror mode where familiar characters turn hostile. Durple, the purple dragon-like character, became a favorite because his cheerful design contrasts sharply with his aggressive jumpscare. Clips of the scare circulated through Sprunki gameplay videos and short-form edits on YouTube and TikTok, where creators isolated the audio for memes. It endures because the seven-second build gives editors a ready-made tension curve for prank and reaction content.