The Game UN:Me: An Cerebral Horror That Blends Survival Horror with Social Deduction Gameplay
The latest Day of the Devs online presentation unveiled a number of intriguing upcoming titles, but one especially has seized the imagination: UN:Me. Created by Historia and Shueisha Games, this single-player adventure appears 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 harboring multiple personalities within her must escape from a maze of the psyche," explains developer Yasukazu Kawai.
Entering a Shattered Consciousness
In UN:Me, players take control of an unnamed heroine seeming to be of teenage years. Within her exist four distinct personas, all possessing unique anxieties and motivations. These souls can seize control spontaneously, releasing their deep-seated phobias upon her without warning.
Judging by showcased footage, much of the narrative takes place within a creepy hospital, though other scenes depict the main character navigating a desolate chapel.
An Environment of Personal Horror
"What are you afraid of? What causes you uneasy?" poses game director Shun Sasaki. "Heights. Confined spaces. Authority figures. Things that seem trivial to others can activate a deep instinct within us. This game explores that concept — anxieties that are unique to every individual."
The core gameplay loop revolves around managing the persona that surfaces at a particular moment. However, these identities will switch against your will as you play. While exploring, every persona's anxieties become exaggerated and assault the protagonist one after another. As the persona changes, so does the specific fear the player experiences.
Unsettling Visuals and a Fatal Decision
Initially, UN:Me displays striking visual similarities with the Silent Hill franchise. The hospital is filled with orderlies all sporting the same face, with unnervingly wide smiles. Figures in the lobby have enormous flowers growing from their heads should be. Floral motifs are an ever-present element, contrasting natural beauty with supernatural dread.
Yet, UN:Me presents a unique twist. Players are tasked with deducing which of the four souls inhabiting the protagonist is the "true" one. "All four personas claims that the physical form is rightfully them," explains a developer. "During the game, you must determine who is real."
After a player believes a persona is fake, they must eliminate it. But, because each soul can lie or obfuscate the truth, it is very easy to make a mistake.
"Perhaps you've already eliminated the true [soul] by your own actions," a voice suggests. "The final entity standing might be a fraud. In any case, your decisions are final."
UN:Me does not yet have a confirmed launch window, but it is can be follow on digital storefronts.
