UN:Me: An Psychological Horror That Blends Silent Hill with Social Deduction Mechanics
The recent Day of the Devs online presentation unveiled a number of intriguing upcoming titles, but one especially has captured the imagination: UN:Me. Created by Historia and Shueisha Games, this single-player adventure seems to blend the oppressive atmosphere of a Silent Hill game with the paranoid deduction core of Among Us.
"This is a unique experience where a young woman harboring several personalities inside her needs to flee from a labyrinth of the mind," explains developer Yasukazu Kawai.
Entering a Fractured Consciousness
In UN:Me, players take control of an unnamed female protagonist who appears to be of high school age. Within her reside four distinct souls, all possessing their own fears and drives. These entities can seize control spontaneously, releasing their innermost terrors upon her suddenly.
Judging by showcased gameplay, much of the action takes place within a creepy medical facility, though other scenes show the main character exploring a abandoned chapel.
An Environment of Personal Dread
"What makes you fearful of? What makes you uncomfortable?" poses creative lead Shun Sasaki. "High places. Small rooms. Authority figures. Things that appear minor to others can trigger something primal within us. This game delves into that idea — anxieties that are unique to each person."
The central gameplay loop involves managing the persona that emerges at a particular time. However, these souls will switch against your will during gameplay. While exploring, every persona's fears become exaggerated and attack the girl one after another. As the persona changes, so does the specific fear the player experiences.
Eerie Aesthetics and a Fatal Decision
Initially, UN:Me displays striking visual similarities with the Silent Hill series. The hospital is populated by orderlies all sporting the same face, with disturbingly broad smiles. Figures in the waiting room have enormous flowers where their necks should be. Floral motifs are a recurring theme, juxtaposing organic elegance with unnatural horror.
Yet, UN:Me introduces a singular twist. Players are tasked with deducing which of the four souls inhabiting the protagonist is the "real" one. "Each of the souls asserts that the body is rightfully them," explains a developer. "During the game, you must determine who is real."
After a player have deduced a soul is an impostor, they must eliminate it. But, because every entity can lie or hide the reality, it is incredibly simple to make a mistake.
"Maybe you've already eliminated the true [soul] with your own hands," the narration suggests. "The final entity remaining might be a fraud. Either way, your decisions are final."
UN:Me currently lacks a confirmed launch window, but it is can be wishlist on digital storefronts.
