The Phantom Ruby is a major plot element in Sonic Mania, released in 2017, and the sound is recognized by fans from the game's cutscene and story presentation. Online, creators use Phantom Ruby audio to signal illusion, distortion, or sudden power spikes in edits about Sonic characters and other game villains. Its appeal comes from how quickly it communicates danger and weird, unstable energy without needing a long setup, which keeps it useful in short-form clips and fast gaming memes.