UN:Me: A Psychological Thriller That Blends Survival Horror with Social Deduction Mechanics
The latest Day of the Devs online presentation unveiled a number of intriguing future games, but one in particular has seized the imagination: UN:Me. Created by Historia and Shueisha Games, this solo experience appears to blend the dread-filled setting of a Silent Hill title with the suspicion-driven core of Among Us.
"It's a distinctive game where a girl containing several personalities within her needs to flee from a labyrinth of the mind," explains developer Yasukazu Kawai.
Stepping Into a Shattered Consciousness
In UN:Me, players assume the role of an unnamed heroine seeming to be of teenage years. Within her reside four distinct souls, all possessing unique fears and drives. These entities can seize control at will, releasing their deep-seated terrors upon her without warning.
Judging by showcased gameplay, much of the action unfolds within a creepy medical facility, while additional clips depict the protagonist navigating a abandoned chapel.
A World of Personal Horror
"What makes you afraid of? What causes you uncomfortable?" asks creative lead Shun Sasaki. "High places. Small rooms. Authority figures. Things that seem trivial to other people can activate a deep instinct inside us. This game delves into that concept — fears that are specific to every individual."
The core gameplay loop involves managing the persona that emerges at any given time. However, these identities will switch against your will as you play. During exploration, each soul's anxieties become amplified and assault the protagonist one after another. When the soul changes, so does the particular terror the player encounters.
Unsettling Aesthetics and a Deadly Decision
At first glance, UN:Me displays noticeable aesthetic parallels with the Silent Hill franchise. The hospital is filled with orderlies all sporting the identical visage, with unnervingly wide smiles. Figures in the lobby have enormous blooms where their necks are. Floral motifs are a recurring theme, juxtaposing organic elegance with supernatural dread.
Yet, UN:Me introduces a singular mechanic. Players are tasked with deducing which of the four souls inhabiting the heroine is the "true" one. "All four personas claims that the body belongs to them," notes a creator. "Throughout the game, you need to figure out who is real."
After a player believes a soul is fake, they are forced to destroy it. However, since each soul can deceive or hide the truth, it is very easy to make a mistake.
"Perhaps you've already eliminated the true [soul] by your own actions," a voice states. "The final entity remaining could be a fake. Either way, your decisions are final."
UN:Me does not yet have a publicly announced launch window, but it is can be wishlist on digital storefronts.
