UN:Me: A Cerebral Horror Merging Silent Hill and Among Us Gameplay
The latest Day of the Devs digital showcase revealed several fascinating upcoming titles, but one in particular has captured the imagination: UN:Me. Developed by Historia and Shueisha Games, this solo adventure appears to blend the oppressive atmosphere of a Silent Hill title with the paranoid deduction heart of Among Us.
"It's a distinctive experience where a girl harboring multiple human souls inside her needs to flee from a maze of the psyche," explains developer Yasukazu Kawai.
Entering a Shattered Consciousness
In UN:Me, players assume the role of an unnamed female protagonist who appears to be of teenage years. Within her exist four separate souls, all possessing unique fears and drives. These souls can seize control at will, releasing their deep-seated phobias upon her without warning.
Judging by revealed gameplay, much of the narrative takes place within a creepy hospital, though other scenes depict the main character exploring a abandoned church.
An Environment of Individual Horror
"What makes you afraid of? What makes you uneasy?" poses game director Shun Sasaki. "High places. Confined spaces. People in power. Elements that seem trivial to others can activate something primal within us. This game explores that idea — anxieties that are unique to each person."
The central mechanic involves controlling the persona that surfaces at any given moment. However, these souls will change against your will as you play. While exploring, every persona's fears become amplified and attack the protagonist one after another. As the persona shifts, so does the specific fear the player experiences.
Eerie Visuals and a Deadly Choice
Initially, UN:Me shares noticeable aesthetic parallels with the Silent Hill franchise. The hospital is filled with orderlies who all share the same face, with unnervingly wide smiles. Patients in the lobby have large blooms where their necks are. Floral motifs are a recurring element, contrasting natural beauty with unnatural horror.
Yet, UN:Me introduces a unique mechanic. Players must determine which of the four souls haunting the protagonist is the "real" one. "Each of the souls asserts that the physical form belongs to them," explains a developer. "During the game, you need to figure out who is real."
After a player have deduced a soul is fake, they are forced to destroy it. But, since each soul can deceive or obfuscate the truth, it is incredibly simple to make a mistake.
"Maybe you've already eliminated the real [soul] by your own actions," a voice states. "The last one remaining might be a fake. In any case, your decisions are final."
UN:Me does not yet have a publicly announced release date, but it is available to wishlist on platforms.
