Tell Me Why Reviews
Tell Me Why is more of a PR product that suffers from typical problems of Dontnod Entertainment' games, where's the key story bits is exaggerated and backed up by nothing interesting, while the game tries to resonate with players by cheap controversy. The first episode is powerful, but then game descends into a pit of monotony and despondency. And this is sad.
Review in Russian | Read full review
You could say that Tell Me Why is about the journey and not the destination, and that journey is indeed a compelling one. And it’s complex; with violence, dysfunction and mental illness featuring prominently, it’s a dark tale in many ways. But it is also one full of hope as well – in the unlikely love that can bring two outsiders together, in the mental bond that literally connects two siblings, and in the liberating power of the truth.
Sometimes the course of events may be a little predictable, and sometimes a little too shallow. In a mystery-edged, dialogue-driven game, it is a difficult balancing act to decide how far to follow the various stories. The road to dissolution is also relatively short and we would have preferred a fourth chapter that allowed us to dig a little deeper in different places. We want more! Because under the three hundred note, you get an entertaining mystery to solve and put your own stamp on. The fact that Microsoft also allows the game to be included in Game Pass makes the acquisition issue an even bigger no-brainer. Tell Me Why is one of the most touching games of the year so far that will have your full attention from start to finish.
Review in Swedish | Read full review
Tell Me Why is an intriguing narrative game, an intimate story capable of discussing complex themes using the power of a story that lives between reality and fiction, and that never sounds pretentious. If you like this kind of story-based games and have followed DONTNOD since Life is Strange, you will not be disappointed.
Review in Italian | Read full review
Tell Me Why uses everything it can to get you invested. The puzzles are creative and often use the game's systems in a way you might not expect, while the characters are incredibly interesting and the story is powerful.
Overall, Tell Me Why has an engaging narrative that will keep you glued until the end.
Tell Me Why is a moody and mature-minded mystery focused on family secrets, while touching sensitively on themes like mental health, gender, and indigenous cultural practices. It's slow going but compelling. Less successful is a supernatural gameplay component that's never fully explored, and feels superficially integrated with the storyline.
An atmospherically dense adventure with a sensitively told story, which, however, suffers from the typical Dontnod weaknesses.
Review in German | Read full review
Tell Me Why is just another great adventure on Dontnod's part and his experience in these types of games is clearly reflected here. The Ronan twins are incredible protagonists who will no doubt stick in my memory for quite a while, and the story does a great job of keeping you immersed in mystery, but with a few bumps along the way.
Review in Spanish | Read full review
By cleverly leaning on the conventions of YA fiction — supernatural elements, family conflicts and the like — the studio has hit emotional peaks rarely, if ever, seen before in gaming (both the first and the second Life is Strange games left me misty-eyed).
All in all, Tell Me Why is another strong effort from Dontnod. The care it takes with its characters is to be applauded, and although it doesn't always hit the perfect spot with its themes the fact that it is discussing them at all is commendable. Those who enjoyed Life is Strange will get a kick (and a cry) out of its cast and plot, and at least it's not afraid to talk about uncomfortable topics in an age where so many developers are trying so hard to be apolitical.
It's a shame that the gameplay is so shoddy at times, because I truly believe that Tell Me Why is one of the most important games of our time, in terms of social impact. Hopefully later episodes won't feel as awkward to play.
As its title suggests, Tell Me Why depicts the journey of two siblings trying to find the truth about their twisted past. Adressing in a mature way the transgender question, the game also delivers an interesting perspective on the flaws of human memory, with the confrontation of childhood recollections. The second episode sometimes moves at low pace and the game lacks of new environments, but the overall experience is memorable.
Review in French | Read full review
Tell Me Why might be smaller in scope and less mechanically complex than Dontnod's Life is Strange series, but it's just as emotionally impactful. It's a compelling story with relatable, complex characters, and yet another example of Dontnod's unbeaten ability to make players feel something, anything, in a medium that's increasingly more mind-numbing.
Tell Me Why arrives to bring us a mature and sensitive story very well executed.
Review in Spanish | Read full review
Dontnod has clearly doubled down on its forte and looks set to continue delivering well-written tales all within that same familiar framework.
Tell Me Why doesn't stray far from Dontnod's style of episodic storytelling, but features rich characters and compelling representation.
Tell Me Why is an engrossing narrative adventure that pushes inclusivity to the forefront, setting a new benchmark for queer representation in the blockbuster space. As a transgender person, this is the level of research and respect that I anticipate from games going forward, and knowing it has the backing of Xbox Game Studios gives me that hope.
Take a trip down memory lane, but be prepared for a bit of a bumpy ride.
Tell Me Why is best experienced as an interactive move – discovering the unusual story of the Ronan siblings from this angle yields an extremely compelling experience. DONTNOD’s new game is worth your time and money not only because it has something important to say, but also because it does so in an extremely satisfying, and gracious way.
Review in Polish | Read full review