Nico's Nextbots is a Roblox horror game released in 2022, inspired by the nextbot chase trend from Garry's Mod. In the game, flat image characters hunt players through maps while loud proximity audio signals how close the danger is. Michael is one of the many meme based chasers players learn to fear and joke about. Clips of the screaming spread through Roblox edits, TikTok videos and soundboards, where the audio became a shortcut for panic, being chased and exaggerated suffering without needing the gameplay footage.