UN:Me: An Psychological Horror That Blends Survival Horror with Among Us Mechanics
The latest Day of the Devs digital showcase revealed a number of fascinating future games, but one in particular has captured the imagination: UN:Me. Created by Historia and Shueisha Games, this solo adventure appears to blend the oppressive atmosphere of a Silent Hill title with the paranoid deduction heart of Among Us.
"This is a unique game where a young woman harboring multiple personalities within her needs to flee from a maze of the mind," explains developer Yasukazu Kawai.
Stepping Into a Shattered Mind
In UN:Me, players take control of an unnamed heroine seeming to be of high school age. Within her reside four separate souls, all possessing their own anxieties and motivations. These souls can take over spontaneously, releasing their deep-seated terrors upon her suddenly.
Judging by revealed footage, much of the action takes place within a creepy hospital, while additional clips depict the protagonist exploring a abandoned chapel.
A World of Individual Dread
"What are you afraid of? What causes you uncomfortable?" poses creative lead Shun Sasaki. "Heights. Small rooms. People in power. Things that seem trivial to other people can trigger a deep instinct within us. This game explores that concept — anxieties that are specific to each person."
The central gameplay loop revolves around managing whichever soul emerges at a particular moment. However, these souls will change involuntarily during gameplay. While exploring, every persona's anxieties become amplified and attack the girl in succession. As the persona changes, so does the particular terror the player encounters.
Unsettling Visuals and a Fatal Choice
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. Figures in the waiting room have large blooms where their heads are. Floral motifs are a recurring theme, juxtaposing natural beauty with unnatural horror.
Yet, UN:Me introduces a singular mechanic. Players must determine which of the four souls haunting the protagonist is the "real" one. "All four souls asserts that the body is rightfully them," notes a creator. "During the game, you need to figure out who is authentic."
Once players believes a persona is fake, they must eliminate it. However, because each soul can lie or hide the reality, it is very easy to choose incorrectly.
"Perhaps you've already eliminated the real [soul] by your own actions," a voice states. "The final entity remaining might be a fake. Either way, your decisions are final."
UN:Me does not yet have a confirmed launch window, but it is available to wishlist on digital storefronts.
