Sonic.EXE is tied to the Sonic creepypasta fandom and the wave of horror fan games and videos built around an evil version of Sonic. Jumpscare clips from that scene spread widely through YouTube edits, gameplay compilations and short-form memes, where creators use them for instant shock value. The sound stays popular because it is short, recognizable to horror-game fans and easy to drop into fake-out setups. It also sits close to other gaming scare staples like the FNAF Jumpscare Scream in meme culture.