UN:Me: A Cerebral Horror That Blends Survival Horror and Among Us Gameplay
The latest Day of the Devs digital showcase unveiled a number of intriguing future games, but one especially has captured the imagination: UN:Me. Developed by Historia and Shueisha Games, this solo adventure seems to blend the dread-filled setting of a Silent Hill title with the suspicion-driven heart of Among Us.
"It's a unique experience where a girl containing multiple personalities inside her must escape from a labyrinth of the mind," states producer Yasukazu Kawai.
Stepping Into a Fractured Consciousness
In UN:Me, players assume the role of an unnamed female protagonist who appears to be of teenage years. Inside her exist four distinct souls, each with unique fears 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 takes place within a eerie hospital, while other scenes show the main character navigating a desolate church.
A World of Personal Horror
"What makes you fearful of? What makes you uneasy?" asks game director Shun Sasaki. "High places. Confined spaces. People in power. Elements that appear minor to other people can activate something primal inside us. This game explores that idea — fears that are specific to each person."
The central mechanic involves managing the persona that emerges at any given moment. However, these souls will switch involuntarily as you play. During exploration, each soul's anxieties become exaggerated and assault the protagonist in succession. As the persona changes, so does the particular terror the player experiences.
Eerie Aesthetics and a Fatal Decision
At first glance, UN:Me displays striking aesthetic parallels with the Silent Hill franchise. The hospital is filled with nurses all sporting the same face, with unnervingly wide smiles. Patients in the lobby have large blooms growing from their necks are. Floral motifs are a recurring element, contrasting organic elegance with supernatural dread.
Yet, UN:Me presents a singular mechanic. Players are tasked with deducing which of the four souls haunting the heroine is the "real" one. "All four souls claims that the physical form is rightfully them," explains a developer. "Throughout the game, you must determine who is authentic."
After a player believes a soul is fake, they must eliminate it. However, since every entity can deceive or hide the reality, it is very easy to choose incorrectly.
"Perhaps you've already eliminated the real [soul] by your own actions," the narration suggests. "The final entity standing might be a fraud. Either way, your decisions are final."
UN:Me currently lacks a publicly announced launch window, but it is available to follow on digital storefronts.
