Meme Run was a 2D endless runner for the Wii U eShop, developed by Ninja Pig Studios and released in December 2014 for $5. The game stuffed in rage comics, Trollface, Lenny Face, and MLG references, drawing scorn from critics but climbing to fifth best-selling on the eShop chart, before Trollface creator Whynne pulled it with a DMCA notice in March 2015.
Origin
Ninja Pig Studios announced Meme Run in September 2014 through the developer's Miiverse account, along with a trailer showing off the side-scrolling gameplay and its parade of internet references[4]. On December 18, 2014, the game launched on the Wii U eShop at $5.00 alongside Mega Man Zero and other new eShop releases[1].
- Platform: Nintendo Wii U eShop / Miiverse (announcement)
- Creator: Ninja Pig Studios
- Date: 2014
Overview
The whole gimmick of Meme Run was packing every recognizable 2010s Reddit meme into a 2D endless runner from Ninja Pig Studios[1]. Players jumped and dodged obstacles while Trollface, doge, Lenny Face, GET OUT Frog, and Illuminati triangles crowded the screen, with 'swag' and '360 no scope' callouts pulled straight from /r/montageparodies bait[3].
Critics panned the platforming as bare-bones and the humor as already stale on arrival, since most of the referenced memes had peaked years earlier[2]. The gameplay was straightforward jump-and-dodge endless runner mechanics, so the entire pull was the meme parade rather than the design[1].
How It Spread
By the end of December 2014, Meme Run had climbed to the fifth best-selling title on Nintendo's eShop, drawing extended coverage from gaming blogs even as review scores stayed negative[3].
The run ended on March 3, 2015, when Redditor DerpDino reported on /r/nintendo that the game had vanished from the Wii U eShop, and the following day Oakland artist Carlos Ramirez, better known online as Whynne, posted on /r/Nintendo to confirm he had sent Nintendo a DMCA notice as the copyright holder of the Trollface meme, adding that the removal could be temporary if Ninja Pig Studios worked out a licensing deal[3].
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Meme Run?
A 2D endless runner released for the Wii U eShop in December 2014 by Ninja Pig Studios, built around rage comics, Trollface, and other Reddit-era internet references[1].
Where did Meme Run come from?
Ninja Pig Studios announced the game in September 2014 on Nintendo's Miiverse and released it on the Wii U eShop on December 18, 2014[4].
What does Meme Run mean?
The name combines the endless-runner game genre with the developer's stated goal of packing in as many internet memes as possible[1].
How do you use Meme Run?
Meme Run is a video game, not a template. Players jump and dodge obstacles in a side-scrolling runner while the screen fills with meme references[1].
Is Meme Run still popular?
No. The game was pulled from the Wii U eShop on March 3, 2015 after Trollface creator Whynne issued a DMCA takedown, and it never returned[3].
