This sound is commonly associated with the Five Nights at Freddy's horror game series, which began in 2014 and became widely shared through gameplay videos, reaction clips and fan edits. Short effects from FNaF spread easily because they instantly signal suspense, animatronics and impending jumpscares. The footstep sound remains popular in horror memes and gaming compilations because it is brief, recognizable to fans, and easy to place right before a scare, reveal or cut to a security camera angle.