Baldi's Basics in Education and Learning began as a 2018 indie horror title from developer Micah McGonigal, built as a twisted take on 1990s educational software. Its classroom doors, chalkboards and hallway chases became instantly recognisable to YouTube and TikTok creators, who lifted short in-game noises for memes and gameplay edits. The door close survived because it is short, clean and instantly readable as an ending, needing no context to signal that someone has just been locked out or left behind.