UN:Me: A Cerebral Horror Merging Silent Hill with Among Us Mechanics
The recent Day of the Devs online presentation revealed a number of intriguing future games, but one especially has seized the imagination: UN:Me. Developed by Historia and Shueisha Games, this solo experience seems to blend the oppressive atmosphere of a Silent Hill game with the suspicion-driven core of Among Us.
"It's a unique experience where a young woman containing multiple personalities within 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 teenage years. Within her exist four distinct souls, each with unique fears and drives. These souls can take over spontaneously, unleashing their deep-seated phobias upon her suddenly.
Based on revealed gameplay, much of the action unfolds within a eerie hospital, though other scenes depict the main character navigating a desolate church.
An Environment of Individual Dread
"What are you fearful of? What makes you uncomfortable?" poses creative lead Shun Sasaki. "Heights. Confined spaces. Authority figures. Elements that appear minor to others can trigger a deep instinct within us. This game explores that concept — anxieties that are specific to each person."
The central mechanic involves controlling whichever soul emerges at a particular time. However, these souls will switch against your will during gameplay. While exploring, every persona's anxieties become amplified and attack the girl in succession. When the soul shifts, so does the specific fear the player encounters.
Unsettling Visuals and a Deadly Choice
Initially, UN:Me displays noticeable aesthetic parallels with the Silent Hill series. The hospital is filled with orderlies who all share the identical visage, with disturbingly broad smiles. Patients in the waiting room have large blooms where their heads are. Flowers are a recurring theme, juxtaposing natural beauty with supernatural dread.
Yet, UN:Me introduces a unique mechanic. Players are tasked with deducing which of the four souls inhabiting the protagonist is the "real" one. "All four personas asserts that the physical form belongs to them," explains a developer. "Throughout the game, you must determine who is authentic."
Once players have deduced a soul is fake, they are forced to destroy it. But, because every entity can lie or hide the reality, it is incredibly simple to make a mistake.
"Perhaps you've already eliminated the real [soul] with your own hands," a voice suggests. "The last one standing might be a fraud. Either way, your decisions are irreversible."
UN:Me does not yet have a publicly announced launch window, but it is can be wishlist on digital storefronts.
