UN:Me: An Cerebral Thriller Merging Survival Horror and Social Deduction Mechanics
The recent Day of the Devs online presentation revealed a number of intriguing upcoming titles, but one in particular has captured the imagination: UN:Me. Developed by Historia and Shueisha Games, this single-player adventure seems to fuse together the oppressive atmosphere of a Silent Hill title with the suspicion-driven heart of Among Us.
"This is a distinctive game where a girl containing multiple personalities within her needs to flee from a maze of the mind," states developer Yasukazu Kawai.
Entering a Shattered Consciousness
In UN:Me, players assume the role of an unnamed female protagonist seeming to be of high school age. Within her reside four distinct souls, all possessing their own fears and drives. These souls can seize control spontaneously, unleashing their deep-seated terrors upon her without warning.
Based on revealed gameplay, much of the action unfolds within a eerie medical facility, though additional clips show the main character navigating a abandoned church.
A World of Personal Horror
"What are you afraid of? What makes you uneasy?" asks game director Shun Sasaki. "Heights. Confined spaces. People in power. Things that appear minor to other people can trigger something primal within us. This game explores that idea — anxieties that are unique to every individual."
The central mechanic involves managing the persona that surfaces at a particular time. However, these identities will change against your will during gameplay. During exploration, every persona's anxieties become exaggerated and attack the girl one after another. When the soul changes, so does the specific fear the player encounters.
Eerie Aesthetics and a Fatal Choice
Initially, UN:Me displays striking aesthetic parallels with the Silent Hill series. The setting is filled with nurses all sporting the same face, with disturbingly broad smiles. Patients in the waiting room have large blooms where their heads are. Floral motifs are an ever-present element, juxtaposing natural beauty with supernatural dread.
Yet, UN:Me presents a unique twist. Players are tasked with deducing which of the four entities haunting the heroine is the "true" one. "Each of the souls asserts that the physical form is rightfully them," explains a creator. "Throughout the game, you need to figure out who is authentic."
Once players have deduced a persona is fake, they are forced to destroy it. However, since every entity can lie or obfuscate the truth, it is very easy to make a mistake.
"Maybe you've already eliminated the real [soul] by your own actions," a voice suggests. "The final entity standing could be a fraud. Either way, your choices are final."
UN:Me does not yet have a confirmed release date, but it is available to wishlist on digital storefronts.
