UN:Me: An Psychological Horror Merging Survival Horror and Social Deduction Mechanics
The latest Day of the Devs digital showcase revealed several fascinating upcoming titles, but one especially has captured attention: UN:Me. Developed by Historia and Shueisha Games, this solo experience seems to fuse together the oppressive atmosphere of a Silent Hill game with the paranoid deduction heart of Among Us.
"It's a unique game where a young woman containing multiple personalities inside her needs to flee from a labyrinth of the psyche," states developer Yasukazu Kawai.
Entering a Shattered Consciousness
In UN:Me, players take control of an unnamed female protagonist seeming to be of teenage years. Within her exist four separate souls, each with unique anxieties and drives. These souls can seize control at will, releasing their deep-seated terrors upon her suddenly.
Judging by showcased gameplay, much of the narrative unfolds within a creepy medical facility, while other scenes depict the main character exploring a desolate church.
An Environment of Personal Horror
"What makes you fearful of? What causes you uneasy?" asks creative lead Shun Sasaki. "Heights. Confined spaces. People in power. Things that seem trivial to other people can activate something primal inside us. This game delves into that idea — anxieties that are specific to every individual."
The central mechanic revolves around managing whichever soul emerges at a particular time. However, these identities will change involuntarily as you play. While exploring, each soul's anxieties become amplified and assault the protagonist in succession. When the soul changes, so does the particular terror the player encounters.
Unsettling Visuals and a Fatal Choice
Initially, UN:Me shares noticeable visual similarities with the Silent Hill series. The setting is populated by nurses all sporting the identical visage, with disturbingly broad grins. Figures in the waiting room have large flowers growing from their heads should be. Flowers are a recurring theme, contrasting natural beauty with unnatural horror.
Yet, UN:Me introduces a singular twist. Players must determine which of the four entities inhabiting the protagonist is the "true" one. "Each of the souls claims that the physical form is rightfully them," notes a creator. "During the game, you must determine who is authentic."
Once players have deduced a persona is an impostor, they must eliminate it. But, because each soul can deceive or obfuscate the reality, it is incredibly simple to make a mistake.
"Perhaps you've already destroyed the true [soul] by your own actions," a voice suggests. "The final entity remaining might be a fraud. In any case, your choices are final."
UN:Me currently lacks a confirmed release date, but it is can be follow on digital storefronts.
