How One Line Sparked a Meme Phenomenon
It started with a desperate shout in a deadly game show. Now it’s a TikTok anthem.
Squid Game Season 2 didn’t just break records; it gave us Seong Gi-hun’s unforgettable line: “I’ve played these games before!”
What was meant to sway votes in a high-stakes survival challenge became internet shorthand for flexing expertise—real or hilariously exaggerated.
The Origin Story: Netflix, TikTok, and the Proclamation Heard Around the Web
It’s Episode 3 of Squid Game Season 2, ominously titled “001.” Gi-hun, the unlikely hero, pleads with a crowd of contestants to listen to him.
The line, delivered with dramatic intensity, was quickly snatched by meme creators for its over-the-top brilliance.
@squidgamefanpage29 #squidgame #squidgamenetflix #squidgameedit #squidgames #squidgamesfanpage #squidgamekdrama #squidgamefyp #squidgames2 #squidgamenetflixseries ♬ original sound – Squid Game 2024
Released on December 26, 2024, the scene first gained traction thanks to TikTok user @squidgamefanpage29, who reposted the English dub.
Within a week, the clip racked up over 346,500 views. By December 27, TikToker @garfieldl0ver6 had already spun it into a gaming joke, and the phrase was off to the viral races.
@garfieldl0ver6 he's so done with those people who vote "O" #fyp #squidgame #squidgameedit #fyp #idk ♬ original sound – repilus ♱
How It Went Viral: The Rise of a Meme
Gamers latched onto the meme as a way to poke fun at “pro” status. From captions like “456 noobs vs. 1 pro” to ironic quips about overestimating one’s abilities, the meme’s flexibility made it a runaway hit.
By early January 2025, the audio had been paired with countless scenarios, including anime fans flaunting their “I read the manga first” superiority and students sarcastically mocking younger peers.
But it didn’t stop there. The absurdity of Gi-hun’s delivery made the line perfect for remixing.
TikTokers added captions about niche hobbies, oddly specific expertise, and even surreal jokes about things like Fortnite skins or obscure visual novels.
Breaking It Down: Why the Meme Works
What makes this meme a crowd favourite? It’s all about relatability. Who hasn’t felt like an “expert” in a room full of “noobs”—even if that expertise is dubious at best?
The exaggerated confidence in Gi-hun’s voice resonates universally, whether you’re a gamer or someone explaining how to properly load a dishwasher.
It’s also endlessly adaptable. Want to show off your encyclopaedic knowledge of 90s sitcoms?
Or laugh about how your dog-training skills come solely from binge-watching YouTube tutorials? This meme is your megaphone.
Top Examples: The Meme in Action
Here are some standout iterations that took the internet by storm:
@cjneedaname IVE PLAYED THESE GAMES BEFORE #squidgame #fyp #meme #funnytiktok ♬ original sound – cjneedaname
A gamer video captioned, “Why do you know so much about Jerkmate?” garnered over 4.2 million views.
@munburumu IVE PLAYED THESE GAMES BEFORE #squidgame #squidgames #squidgame2 #squidgameseason2 #meme #highschool #relatable #fyp #viral #munburumu ♬ original sound – repilus ♱
TikToker @munburumu’s joke about eighth graders starting high school pulled in 1.8 million views, proving even schoolyard humour isn’t safe from the meme’s reach.
Cross-Platform Success
— Shitpost 2049 (@shitpost_2049) January 2, 2025
The meme quickly spread to other platforms. The My Femboy Roommate version was reposted on Twitter/X by @shitpost_2049, gathering over 28,000 likes in a day.
Current Status
As of January 2025, the meme continues to circulate on social media platforms, primarily TikTok.
Its popularity stems from its versatility in portraying scenarios where someone claims expertise or prior experience, often in humorous or unexpected contexts.