UN:Me: A Psychological Thriller Merging Silent Hill and Social Deduction Mechanics
The recent Day of the Devs online presentation unveiled a number of intriguing future games, but one in particular has captured the imagination: UN:Me. Developed by Historia and Shueisha Games, this solo experience seems to fuse together the dread-filled setting of a Silent Hill title with the suspicion-driven core of Among Us.
"This is a distinctive experience where a girl harboring multiple personalities within her must escape from a labyrinth of the mind," explains producer Yasukazu Kawai.
Entering a Shattered Mind
In UN:Me, players assume the role of an unnamed female protagonist seeming to be of teenage years. Inside her reside four separate souls, all possessing unique fears 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 takes place within a creepy medical facility, though other scenes show the protagonist exploring a abandoned chapel.
An Environment of Personal Horror
"What makes you afraid of? What makes you uneasy?" asks creative lead Shun Sasaki. "Heights. Confined spaces. People in power. Things that seem trivial to other people can trigger a deep instinct within us. This game explores that idea — fears that are specific to every individual."
The core mechanic involves managing whichever soul emerges at a particular moment. However, these identities will switch involuntarily during gameplay. During exploration, every persona's anxieties become amplified and attack the protagonist in succession. When the soul changes, so does the particular terror the player encounters.
Eerie Visuals and a Deadly Decision
At first glance, UN:Me shares noticeable visual similarities with the Silent Hill series. The hospital is populated by nurses all sporting the identical visage, with disturbingly broad grins. Patients in the waiting room have enormous blooms growing from their heads should be. Flowers are an ever-present element, juxtaposing natural beauty with unnatural horror.
Yet, UN:Me introduces a singular mechanic. Players are tasked with deducing which of the four souls haunting the heroine is the "real" one. "All four personas claims that the physical form is rightfully them," notes a creator. "Throughout the game, you must determine who is real."
Once players have deduced a persona is fake, they must eliminate it. However, because every entity can lie or hide the reality, it is incredibly simple to choose incorrectly.
"Perhaps you've already destroyed the true [soul] with your own hands," a voice suggests. "The last one standing might be a fake. In any case, your decisions are final."
UN:Me does not yet have a publicly announced launch window, but it is can be follow on platforms.
