UN:Me: An Cerebral Horror That Blends Survival Horror and Among Us Gameplay
The recent Day of the Devs online presentation revealed several fascinating future games, but one especially has captured attention: UN:Me. Developed by Historia and Shueisha Games, this single-player experience seems to fuse together the dread-filled setting of a Silent Hill title with the suspicion-driven core of Among Us.
"It's a distinctive game where a young woman containing several human souls within her must escape from a labyrinth of the psyche," explains developer Yasukazu Kawai.
Entering a Fractured Mind
In UN:Me, players take control of an unnamed heroine seeming to be of teenage years. Inside her exist four distinct personas, each with unique fears and drives. These souls can seize control at will, releasing their innermost phobias upon her without warning.
Based on revealed footage, much of the narrative unfolds within a creepy hospital, though other scenes depict the main character navigating a abandoned chapel.
A World of Individual Dread
"What makes you fearful of? What makes you uncomfortable?" asks creative lead Shun Sasaki. "High places. Confined spaces. Authority figures. Elements that seem trivial to other people can trigger a deep instinct within us. This game explores that idea — fears that are specific to every individual."
The core gameplay loop revolves around managing the persona that surfaces at a particular time. However, these identities will change involuntarily as you play. While exploring, every persona's anxieties become amplified and attack the protagonist in succession. As the persona changes, so does the particular terror the player experiences.
Unsettling Visuals and a Fatal Choice
Initially, UN:Me shares striking visual similarities with the Silent Hill franchise. The setting is filled with orderlies who all share the same face, with disturbingly broad grins. Figures in the lobby have large flowers growing from their necks are. Flowers are a recurring theme, juxtaposing natural beauty with unnatural horror.
Yet, UN:Me presents a unique mechanic. Players are tasked with deducing which of the four entities inhabiting the protagonist is the "true" one. "Each of the personas claims that the body is rightfully them," explains a developer. "During the game, you need to figure out who is authentic."
Once players have deduced a persona is fake, they must eliminate it. But, since every entity can lie or obfuscate the truth, it is incredibly simple to make a mistake.
"Maybe you've already destroyed the true [soul] with your own hands," a voice suggests. "The final entity remaining could be a fraud. In any case, your decisions are irreversible."
UN:Me does not yet have a publicly announced release date, but it is available to follow on digital storefronts.
