Tell Me Why Reviews
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.
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
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's exploration of the complexities of memory, the difficulties of knowing our loved ones, and a world that can be better for our transgender loved ones make it a game worth experiencing.
When all is said and done, though Tell Me Why doesn't necessarily disturb the established Dontnod template too much, it executes it well enough that that doesn't ever seem like an issue. Excellent characters, strong writing, and a deeply personal plot help the player connect with the story. In the end, that most criticisms of the game can be boiled down to "I wish I had had more time to spend in its world and with its characters" should, ultimately, be all that really needs to be said about Tell Me Why.
Overall, Tell Me Why is a wonderful and thoughtful game that values both its characters and story. Every little detail that is scattered across the game works in harmony to create a believable and engaging world. It is a game that is constantly teaching us more about its interesting side characters and rarely gives the player a chance to want to put the controller down. Despite not having a wild and climactic ending, Tell Me Why is one of the best stories to come out of Dontnod studios and a must-play for any fans of the adventure genre.
Tell Me Why pushes the boundaries of video-game storytelling with its mature, open-minded approach to its themes and its pioneering representation. The inclusion of a trans lead character is vital but the story is a lot deeper than what's on the surface.
Tell Me Why diversifies from the usual narrative adventures, manages to strike deep thanks to a story based on hard and complicated themes.
Review in Italian | Read full review
Tell Me Why picks up the story just when the player feels it has nothing more to offer, and carries it until the very end. There are some weird gameplay mechanics going on, and the overall experience is not that solid, but there is no denying that Dontnod knows how to tell a story, and hopefully things will get even more exciting in upcoming season 2.
Review in Persian | 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
Tell Me Why is a massive step forward in diverse and unique storytelling in the mainstream space.
Tell Me Why is another interesting and captivating episodic adventure, albeit a familiar one, from one of the studios that does it the best.
An intimate and compelling story, with great characterization and environments. It brilliantly manages to represent a transgender character without falling in clichés and stereotypes, normalizing him and making him part of a wider, intense drama. We would have liked a more varied gameplay and interactivity though, as the experience is mainly limited to basic exploration, object interaction, and dialogues.
Review in Italian | Read full review
Tell Me Why is more down to earth than its Life is Strange predecessors, but that is in no way a flaw. Its charming characters, beautiful Alaskan setting and slow-burning storyline that rewards the attentive player make it a great slice-of-life adventure.
Review in Portuguese | Read full review
Tell Me Why is an astounding addition to an amazing line-up of DONTNOD’s lofty library of occultic tales, and most definitely a must play in 2020.
So, all in all, Tell Me Why is a fun, story-telling video game with memorable protagonists.
Tell Me Why is quite amazing. It’s very heartwarming and heartbreaking at the same time. It pulls you in nicely and makes you care for these characters. It makes you one of them. And while this is in no way a perfect game, it’s a fun ride from start to finish, and the players will surely be enticed with this title for its characters and story.
Take a trip down memory lane, but be prepared for a bit of a bumpy ride.
Tell Me Why shines brightest when it's focusing on the powerful bond between twins Tyler and Alyson, but the overall story and memory mechanics don't ever reach the same high bar
All in all Tell Me Why is a nice 9 hour journey with a great story in a new world that’s able to keep you entertained and engaged. And if you want, you can try out different story branches by making other choices. But if you don’t like DontNod games, you should think twice before jumping in this story in Delos Crossing.