UN:Me: An Psychological Horror Merging Silent Hill and Among Us Gameplay
The recent Day of the Devs digital showcase unveiled a number of intriguing upcoming titles, but one especially has captured attention: UN:Me. Developed by Historia and Shueisha Games, this solo adventure appears to blend the dread-filled setting of a Silent Hill game with the suspicion-driven heart of Among Us.
"This is a distinctive experience where a young woman containing several personalities inside her must escape from a labyrinth of the psyche," states developer Yasukazu Kawai.
Entering a Fractured Consciousness
In UN:Me, players take control of an unnamed heroine seeming to be of high school age. Inside her reside four separate souls, each with their own anxieties and drives. These souls can seize control at will, releasing their deep-seated terrors upon her without warning.
Judging by revealed gameplay, much of the narrative unfolds within a creepy hospital, while other scenes show the main character exploring a abandoned church.
A World of Personal Horror
"What makes you afraid of? What makes you uncomfortable?" poses creative lead Shun Sasaki. "Heights. Small rooms. Authority figures. Elements that appear minor to other people can activate something primal within us. This game explores that concept — fears that are specific to every individual."
The central mechanic revolves around controlling whichever soul surfaces at any given time. However, these identities will switch involuntarily during gameplay. While exploring, every persona's fears become exaggerated and assault the protagonist in succession. As the persona shifts, so does the particular terror the player experiences.
Unsettling Aesthetics and a Fatal Choice
Initially, UN:Me shares striking aesthetic parallels with the Silent Hill series. The setting is populated by nurses who all share the identical visage, with unnervingly wide smiles. Figures in the waiting room have large flowers growing from their heads should be. Flowers are a recurring theme, contrasting natural beauty with unnatural horror.
Yet, UN:Me presents a singular mechanic. Players are tasked with deducing which of the four entities inhabiting the protagonist is the "real" one. "Each of the personas claims that the physical form belongs to them," notes a developer. "During the game, you must determine who is real."
Once players have deduced a persona is an impostor, they must eliminate it. But, since every entity can lie or hide the reality, it is very easy to choose incorrectly.
"Perhaps you've already destroyed the real [soul] with your own hands," the narration states. "The last one standing might be a fake. In any case, your choices are irreversible."
UN:Me currently lacks a confirmed launch window, but it is can be follow on platforms.
