AI and Perception in That's Not My Neighbor – When a Game Tests Human Cognition

Modern indie games are becoming fascinating laboratories for exploring AI, human cognition, and decision-making—and That's Not My Neighbor is a perfect example.

In this psychological horror game, players take on the role of gatekeepers, tasked with distinguishing humans from near-perfect impostors. The tension comes not from unexpected scares, but from cognitive dissonance—a similar mental conflict that has been studied in human-AI interaction research.

What makes this game unique is how it reflects real-world verification challenges: pattern recognition, data reconciliation, and the emotional toll that uncertainty can take. It subtly reflects the dilemmas facing AI ethics and identity verification systems—where even algorithms can make life-altering mistakes.

By gamifying cognition, That's Not My Neighbor asks a key question:

Try it for yourself at thatsnot-mneighbor.io and see how a simple pixel-art game can challenge the limits of human and machine judgment.