UN:Me: An Psychological Horror Merging Survival Horror with Social Deduction Mechanics
The latest Day of the Devs online presentation revealed several intriguing upcoming titles, but one especially has captured attention: UN:Me. Developed by Historia and Shueisha Games, this single-player adventure appears to blend the oppressive atmosphere of a Silent Hill game with the paranoid deduction core of Among Us.
"This is a distinctive experience where a girl harboring several personalities within her must escape from a labyrinth of the psyche," explains developer Yasukazu Kawai.
Entering a Fractured Mind
In UN:Me, players assume the role of an unnamed female protagonist seeming to be of high school age. Within her exist four distinct personas, each with their own fears and motivations. These entities can take over at will, unleashing their deep-seated terrors upon her without warning.
Based on revealed footage, much of the action takes place within a eerie hospital, though other scenes depict the protagonist navigating a abandoned chapel.
A World of Personal Horror
"What makes you afraid of? What makes you uncomfortable?" poses game director Shun Sasaki. "Heights. Small rooms. Authority figures. Elements that seem trivial to other people can activate a deep instinct inside us. This game delves into that concept — fears that are specific to every individual."
The central mechanic revolves around controlling the persona that surfaces at a particular time. However, these souls will change against your will during gameplay. During exploration, each soul's fears become exaggerated and assault the girl one after another. When the soul changes, so does the particular terror the player encounters.
Unsettling Aesthetics and a Deadly Decision
At first glance, UN:Me shares striking visual similarities with the Silent Hill franchise. The hospital is populated by nurses who all share the identical visage, with disturbingly broad grins. Patients in the waiting room have large blooms growing from their necks should be. Flowers are an ever-present theme, juxtaposing organic elegance with supernatural dread.
Yet, UN:Me presents a singular twist. Players are tasked with deducing which of the four souls inhabiting the heroine is the "real" one. "All four souls claims that the body belongs to them," notes a developer. "During the game, you need to figure out who is real."
After a player have deduced a soul is an impostor, they are forced to destroy it. However, since every entity can lie or obfuscate the reality, it is incredibly simple to make a mistake.
"Perhaps you've already eliminated the real [soul] by your own actions," the narration suggests. "The last one standing might be a fake. In any case, your choices are irreversible."
UN:Me does not yet have a confirmed release date, but it is available to wishlist on platforms.
