Tell Me Why Reviews
Stellar writing and performances are paired with refined mechanics and an overall vibe that makes the whole thing seem effortless.
Tell Me Why is a Dontnod game throughout its every part, right down to its bones. Although those bones might be bare, it has a lot of soul. With care, Dontnod dive into discomfort and drag us with them throughout three concise episodes that explore the power that comes coupled with familial ties, both bound by blood and by the metaphysical, as well as memory and all of its heartbreaking deceptions.
Backed by stellar writing, a gorgeous presentation and the culmination of years of innovation in the genre, DONTNOD's latest episodic narrative game is their best yet
While Tell Me Why may draw people in because of a transgender character, it offers far more than just that. It presents a complex, psychological narrative that doesn’t use minorities as mere tools to shortcut emotional responses from its players. Take note.
While still supernatural, Tell Me Why provides more of a mature tale overall than Life is Strange. It's surprisingly dark, but uplifting at times as well. This game takes chances with the cast of characters in ways that are mostly a resounding success. It's exciting to see a LGBTQ lead character and a storyline that doesn't plunge headfirst into tropes. Here's hoping that this is a sign of where Dontnod will go in the future, because Tell Me Why is a step in the right direction.
Tell Me Why and Dontnod deserve praise for the game’s carefully considered representation of trans protagonist Tyler, but unfortunately, the game struggles on all other fronts.
Tell Me Why is another interesting and captivating episodic adventure, albeit a familiar one, from one of the studios that does it the best.
This first episode of the new Dontnod trilogy story is a bit of a slow starter but sets a beautiful scene of little-town Alaska where twins Tyler and Alyson grew up. The game brings everything we expect from a Dontnod game: exploration, tough decisions, and puzzles combined with the supernatural and more than one complex and difficult relationship.
Review in Dutch | Read full review
The first episode of Tell Me Why perfectly begins another groundbreaking story in the history of Dontnod. For lovers of genre, Life is Strange and serious themes, a must-have item!
Review in Polish | Read full review
Dontnod’s poignant story delivers what it set out to do, and through rekindling the sadness of a broken childhood, the twins discover much about themselves and also their mother.
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
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.
Ultimately, Tell Me Why taught me how to not be defined by my past, and gave me the tools to thrive in the future. In a time where I needed hope perhaps more than ever, Dontnod delivered it. For that, their masterpiece has firmly cemented itself as my absolute favorite video game I've had the pleasure of playing.
DONTNOD giva us a more intimate, personal and familiar journey than the rest of its games, full of heart and emotion.
Review in Portuguese | Read full review
It’s less dramatic than some of Dontnod’s other outings (and probably not for those with short attention spans given the pacing), but Tell Me Why remains a good entry in their the library of stories about families and sad magic – and it’s probably the most hopeful one yet.
Quotation forthcoming.
Review in Spanish | Read full review
Tell Me Why is a good game but some flaws in the plot make the story a little too confusing and uninvolving in the end.
Review in Italian | Read full review
Despite the craft and heart, Tell Me Why feels like a game at odds with itself.
Tell Me Why puts Dontnod's usual bag of tricks to good use in an empathetic but somewhat toothless narrative.
Tell Me Why tackles a difficult subject quite well thanks to interesting central characters who interact maturely and drive the story forward. But limited use of telepathy, immaterial player choice, and a generally boring delivery tarnish this morose tale.