Sonic.exe began as an internet creepypasta in the early 2010s, imagining Sonic the Hedgehog as a demonic, blood-eyed entity who torments players through a haunted game. The character quickly spread through YouTube retellings, fan art, fan-made games and horror animations, with his distinctive laugh becoming one of his most recognisable traits. As Sonic horror content kept circulating on TikTok and YouTube, the laugh survived as shorthand for corrupted nostalgia, letting creators signal that something familiar has turned evil without needing any explanation.