Sonic.EXE is a horror reinterpretation of Sonic the Hedgehog that spread online through creepypasta stories, fan games, and YouTube videos in the early 2010s. Sounds linked to the character, especially creepy laughter, became popular in edits that imitate haunted game files and glitchy villain reveals. The clip remains widely used because Sonic.EXE is instantly recognizable to gaming audiences and fits the same dramatic meme space as a vine boom sound when creators want a darker, more unsettling payoff.