UN:Me: A Cerebral Thriller That Blends Silent Hill with Among Us Mechanics
The recent Day of the Devs digital showcase revealed several fascinating upcoming titles, but one especially has seized the imagination: UN:Me. Created by Historia and Shueisha Games, this solo adventure appears to blend the dread-filled setting of a Silent Hill title with the suspicion-driven core of Among Us.
"It's a unique experience where a young woman harboring several personalities within her needs to flee from a labyrinth of the psyche," explains developer Yasukazu Kawai.
Stepping Into a Shattered Mind
In UN:Me, players take control of an unnamed heroine who appears to be of teenage years. Inside her reside four separate personas, all possessing their own fears and drives. These entities can seize control spontaneously, releasing their innermost terrors upon her suddenly.
Judging by revealed gameplay, much of the narrative unfolds within a creepy hospital, while additional clips depict the protagonist exploring a desolate church.
An Environment of Personal Horror
"What makes you fearful of? What makes you uneasy?" asks game director Shun Sasaki. "High places. Confined spaces. Authority figures. Things that appear minor to other people can activate a deep instinct within us. This game delves into that idea — fears that are unique to every individual."
The central mechanic revolves around managing the persona that emerges at any given time. However, these souls will change against your will as you play. During exploration, each soul's fears become amplified and assault the protagonist one after another. When the soul shifts, so does the specific fear the player experiences.
Unsettling Aesthetics and a Deadly Decision
Initially, UN:Me displays noticeable visual similarities with the Silent Hill series. The setting is filled with orderlies who all share the identical visage, with unnervingly wide grins. Patients in the lobby have large flowers growing from their necks are. Floral motifs are a recurring theme, contrasting natural beauty with supernatural dread.
Yet, UN:Me presents a unique twist. Players are tasked with deducing which of the four souls haunting the protagonist is the "true" one. "Each of the souls claims that the physical form is rightfully them," notes a developer. "Throughout the game, you need to figure out who is real."
Once players believes a soul is an impostor, they must eliminate it. But, since each soul can lie or hide the truth, it is very easy to make a mistake.
"Maybe you've already eliminated the true [soul] with your own hands," a voice states. "The last one standing might be a fraud. Either way, your choices are irreversible."
UN:Me currently lacks a publicly announced launch window, but it is can be wishlist on digital storefronts.