UN:Me: A Psychological Thriller That Blends Silent Hill and Social Deduction Gameplay
The latest Day of the Devs online presentation unveiled a number of fascinating future games, but one in particular has seized attention: UN:Me. Created by Historia and Shueisha Games, this solo experience appears to blend the dread-filled setting of a Silent Hill title with the suspicion-driven heart of Among Us.
"It's a unique experience where a young woman containing multiple human souls inside her needs to flee from a labyrinth of the psyche," explains producer Yasukazu Kawai.
Entering a Fractured Consciousness
In UN:Me, players take control of an unnamed heroine who appears to be of high school age. Inside her reside four separate personas, all possessing unique anxieties and drives. These souls can take over spontaneously, unleashing their deep-seated phobias upon her without warning.
Based on showcased footage, much of the action unfolds within a creepy hospital, while other scenes depict the main character exploring a abandoned church.
A World of Individual Horror
"What makes you afraid of? What causes you uncomfortable?" poses creative lead Shun Sasaki. "High places. Small rooms. People in power. Things that seem trivial to others can trigger something primal within us. This game explores that idea — fears that are specific to each person."
The core gameplay loop involves controlling whichever soul emerges at a particular moment. However, these souls will switch against your will as you play. During exploration, each soul's anxieties become amplified and attack the protagonist one after another. When the soul changes, so does the specific fear the player encounters.
Unsettling Aesthetics and a Fatal Choice
At first glance, UN:Me shares striking aesthetic parallels with the Silent Hill series. The hospital is populated by nurses who all share the same face, with unnervingly wide grins. Patients in the waiting room have enormous blooms where their heads should be. Floral motifs are an ever-present element, juxtaposing organic elegance 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 creator. "During the game, you need to figure out who is real."
Once players have deduced a soul is an impostor, they must eliminate it. However, since every entity can lie or obfuscate the truth, it is very easy to make a mistake.
"Maybe you've already destroyed the true [soul] by your own actions," the narration suggests. "The final entity remaining could be a fake. Either way, your decisions are irreversible."
UN:Me currently lacks a confirmed launch window, but it is available to follow on platforms.
