UN:Me: A Cerebral Thriller That Blends Survival Horror with Social Deduction Gameplay
The recent Day of the Devs digital showcase unveiled a number of fascinating upcoming titles, but one especially has captured attention: UN:Me. Created by Historia and Shueisha Games, this single-player adventure seems to blend the dread-filled setting of a Silent Hill game with the suspicion-driven heart of Among Us.
"It's a unique experience where a girl containing multiple personalities within her needs to flee from a labyrinth of the mind," states producer Yasukazu Kawai.
Stepping Into a Shattered Consciousness
In UN:Me, players assume the role of an unnamed heroine seeming to be of teenage years. Inside her reside four separate personas, all possessing their own fears and motivations. These souls can seize control at will, releasing their deep-seated terrors upon her suddenly.
Judging by showcased gameplay, much of the action takes place within a creepy hospital, though other scenes depict the main character navigating a desolate chapel.
An Environment of Individual Horror
"What makes you afraid of? What makes you uncomfortable?" poses creative lead Shun Sasaki. "Heights. Small rooms. People in power. Things that appear minor to others can trigger something primal within us. This game delves into that concept — fears that are unique to each person."
The central mechanic revolves around controlling the persona that surfaces at a particular moment. However, these identities will switch involuntarily during gameplay. While exploring, each soul's anxieties become amplified and attack the girl one after another. When the soul changes, so does the specific fear the player experiences.
Unsettling Aesthetics and a Fatal Choice
Initially, UN:Me displays noticeable visual similarities with the Silent Hill franchise. The setting is populated by nurses who all share the same face, with unnervingly wide grins. Figures in the lobby have enormous blooms growing from their necks should be. Floral motifs are an ever-present theme, contrasting organic elegance with supernatural dread.
Yet, UN:Me introduces a singular mechanic. Players are tasked with deducing which of the four souls haunting the protagonist is the "true" one. "All four souls asserts that the body belongs to them," notes a developer. "During the game, you must determine who is authentic."
After a player have deduced a soul is an impostor, they are forced to destroy it. But, since every entity can deceive or hide the reality, it is very easy to make a mistake.
"Perhaps you've already eliminated the real [soul] with your own hands," a voice states. "The last one standing might be a fraud. Either way, your decisions are irreversible."
UN:Me currently lacks a publicly announced release date, but it is can be follow on digital storefronts.
