The Game UN:Me: A Cerebral Horror That Blends Survival Horror with Social Deduction Gameplay
The recent Day of the Devs digital showcase unveiled several fascinating future games, but one in particular has seized attention: UN:Me. Developed by Historia and Shueisha Games, this solo adventure appears to blend the dread-filled setting of a Silent Hill title with the paranoid deduction heart of Among Us.
"This is a unique experience where a girl containing several personalities inside her needs to flee from a maze of the psyche," explains producer Yasukazu Kawai.
Entering a Shattered Mind
In UN:Me, players assume the role of an unnamed female protagonist who appears to be of high school age. Inside her exist four distinct personas, all possessing their own fears and motivations. These souls can take over at will, unleashing their innermost phobias upon her without warning.
Based on revealed gameplay, much of the narrative takes place within a eerie hospital, though other scenes depict the main character navigating a abandoned chapel.
An Environment of Individual Horror
"What are you afraid of? What causes you uncomfortable?" poses game director Shun Sasaki. "High places. Small rooms. Authority figures. Things that seem trivial to other people can activate a deep instinct within us. This game explores that idea — anxieties that are specific to each person."
The core gameplay loop revolves around managing whichever soul surfaces at any given moment. However, these identities will change against your will during gameplay. While exploring, each soul's fears become exaggerated and attack the protagonist in succession. When the soul changes, so does the specific fear the player encounters.
Unsettling Visuals and a Fatal Decision
Initially, UN:Me displays noticeable aesthetic parallels with the Silent Hill franchise. The hospital is populated by orderlies who all share the same face, with disturbingly broad grins. Figures in the lobby have enormous blooms growing from their necks should be. Flowers are a recurring element, contrasting natural beauty with unnatural horror.
Yet, UN:Me introduces a unique mechanic. Players must determine which of the four souls inhabiting the protagonist is the "real" one. "Each of the personas asserts that the physical form is rightfully them," notes a developer. "During the game, you need to figure out who is authentic."
Once players have deduced a soul is an impostor, they must eliminate it. However, because every entity can deceive or hide the truth, it is very easy to make a mistake.
"Perhaps you've already destroyed the real [soul] by your own actions," a voice states. "The final entity standing might be a fake. In any case, your choices are final."
UN:Me currently lacks a publicly announced release date, but it is available to wishlist on platforms.