The Game UN:Me: A Psychological Horror Merging Survival Horror and Social Deduction Gameplay
The recent Day of the Devs digital showcase revealed a number of intriguing future games, but one in particular has seized attention: UN:Me. Created by Historia and Shueisha Games, this single-player experience appears to fuse together the oppressive atmosphere of a Silent Hill game with the paranoid deduction heart of Among Us.
"It's a distinctive game where a young woman containing multiple human souls inside her needs to flee from a maze of the psyche," states producer Yasukazu Kawai.
Stepping Into a Fractured Mind
In UN:Me, players assume the role of an unnamed female protagonist seeming to be of teenage years. Within her exist four separate souls, all possessing their own fears and motivations. These entities can take over at will, unleashing their deep-seated phobias upon her without warning.
Based on showcased gameplay, much of the action unfolds within a creepy hospital, while additional clips depict the protagonist navigating a abandoned chapel.
An Environment of Personal Horror
"What are you fearful of? What causes you uneasy?" asks creative lead Shun Sasaki. "Heights. Small rooms. People in power. Things that seem trivial to other people can activate something primal inside us. This game explores that idea — anxieties that are unique to each person."
The core gameplay loop revolves around controlling the persona that emerges at any given time. However, these identities will change involuntarily as you play. During exploration, every persona's fears become exaggerated and assault the girl one after another. As the persona shifts, so does the specific fear the player experiences.
Eerie Aesthetics and a Fatal Choice
Initially, UN:Me displays noticeable aesthetic parallels with the Silent Hill franchise. The hospital is filled with orderlies who all share the identical visage, with unnervingly wide grins. Figures in the lobby have enormous flowers growing from their necks should be. Floral motifs are a recurring theme, juxtaposing natural beauty with supernatural dread.
Yet, UN:Me introduces a singular twist. Players must determine which of the four souls inhabiting the protagonist is the "true" one. "Each of the personas asserts that the body is rightfully them," explains a developer. "During the game, you need to figure out who is authentic."
Once players believes a persona is an impostor, they are forced to destroy it. But, since every entity can lie or hide the reality, it is very easy to choose incorrectly.
"Maybe you've already destroyed the real [soul] with your own hands," a voice suggests. "The last one standing might be a fraud. Either way, your choices are irreversible."
UN:Me currently lacks a publicly announced release date, but it is available to follow on platforms.
