The Game UN:Me: A Psychological Thriller Merging Survival Horror and Social Deduction Mechanics
The recent Day of the Devs online presentation revealed a number of fascinating upcoming titles, but one in particular has seized the imagination: UN:Me. Developed by Historia and Shueisha Games, this solo adventure seems to fuse together the dread-filled setting of a Silent Hill game with the paranoid deduction heart of Among Us.
"This is a distinctive experience where a young woman harboring several human souls within her needs to flee from a labyrinth of the mind," explains producer Yasukazu Kawai.
Stepping Into a Shattered Mind
In UN:Me, players assume the role of an unnamed female protagonist who appears to be of teenage years. Within her exist four distinct personas, each with their own anxieties and motivations. These entities can seize control spontaneously, unleashing their deep-seated terrors upon her without warning.
Judging by showcased footage, much of the action takes place within a eerie medical facility, though other scenes depict the main character navigating a abandoned church.
A World of Personal Dread
"What makes you fearful of? What causes you uncomfortable?" poses game director Shun Sasaki. "Heights. Confined spaces. Authority figures. Elements that seem trivial to other people can trigger a deep instinct within us. This game delves into that concept — anxieties that are unique to each person."
The central mechanic revolves around controlling the persona that surfaces at a particular time. However, these souls will switch involuntarily during gameplay. During exploration, each soul's fears become amplified and assault the girl one after another. When the soul shifts, so does the specific fear the player encounters.
Unsettling Visuals and a Fatal Choice
Initially, UN:Me displays striking aesthetic parallels with the Silent Hill franchise. The setting is populated by orderlies all sporting the identical visage, with unnervingly wide smiles. Patients in the waiting room have enormous flowers where their necks should be. Flowers are an ever-present element, juxtaposing organic elegance with supernatural dread.
Yet, UN:Me presents a unique twist. Players are tasked with deducing which of the four entities haunting the protagonist is the "real" one. "Each of the souls asserts that the body belongs to them," explains a creator. "During the game, you need to figure out who is authentic."
After a player believes a soul is fake, they are forced to destroy it. However, because each soul can lie or obfuscate the reality, it is incredibly simple to make a mistake.
"Perhaps you've already destroyed the true [soul] by your own actions," the narration states. "The final entity remaining could be a fake. In any case, your choices are final."
UN:Me does not yet have a confirmed launch window, but it is can be follow on platforms.
