Tell Me Why

 Xbox One
Tell Me Why Image
Metascore
78

Generally favorable reviews - based on 45 Critic Reviews What's this?

User Score
5.9

Mixed or average reviews- based on 292 Ratings

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  • Summary: Tell Me Why is the latest narrative adventure game from DONTNOD Entertainment, the studio behind the beloved franchise, Life Is Strange. In this intimate thriller, twins Tyler and Alyson Ronan use their special bond to unravel mysteries of their loving but troubled childhood. Set inTell Me Why is the latest narrative adventure game from DONTNOD Entertainment, the studio behind the beloved franchise, Life Is Strange. In this intimate thriller, twins Tyler and Alyson Ronan use their special bond to unravel mysteries of their loving but troubled childhood. Set in beautiful small-town Alaska, Tell Me Why features true-to-life characters, mature themes and gripping choices.… Expand

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Tell Me Why Cinematic Trailer | Xbox Games Showcase 2020

Critic Reviews

Score distribution:
  1. Positive: 30 out of 45
  2. Mixed: 15 out of 45
  3. Negative: 0 out of 45
  1. GameSpew
    Aug 27, 2020
    100
    I’ve no hesitation in saying that Tell Me Why is Dontnod Entertainment’s best game yet. Its narrative may be somewhat small in scope, but the subject matter it deals with packs a punch much greater than any tall tale of time manipulation ever could. Its characters are some of the most well-realised I’ve come across in a game yet, and their story is one that’s not going to leave me any time soon. Dontnod deals with difficult subject matter bravely and commendably, but that’s not why Tell Me Why is so special. It’s the combination of everything altogether – its characters, actors, visuals, story – that makes this an experience I’m not soon going to forget.
  2. Worth Playing
    Sep 9, 2020
    90
    Tell Me Why is a memorable experience that's done well. The adventure portions are a good reminder to adventure game fans that the classic experience of logical puzzle-solving is alive and well, but the narrative becomes the driving force for completing the title. From the natural reactions to the characters to the assurances that the subjects of culture and transgenderism aren't just there for show, everything is elevated to the level of some of the best television dramas. For those who want something that's still considered new in the gaming landscape, Tell Me Why is a title that's well worth checking out.
  3. XboxAddict
    Sep 2, 2020
    88
    It’s abundantly obviously that Tell Me Why was made as a labor of love, and my time with Tyler and Alyson, while short, was very memorable. More importantly, it made me learn something new, ask questions and broadened my knowledge to other people’s plights that I’ve never had to personally experience. Not many other games have had the same lasting impact that Tell Me Why has.
  4. GAMINGbible
    Aug 27, 2020
    80
    A lot of families hide pasts that, well, those living in the present day would rather not talk about. The Ronan twins' past is one touched by darkness, by actions and individuals who they have, understandably, pushed to one side. Going through this journey of rediscovery with them is a sometimes shocking but often joyous experience, and if you're someone who loves a tender yet twisted narrative adventure, Tell Me Why absolutely deserves your attention.
  5. Game Informer
    Aug 27, 2020
    78
    Tell Me Why doesn’t exactly answer the question it poses in its title, and maybe that’s the point. Even so, I came away with mixed feelings by the end. I really enjoyed getting to know Tyler and Alyson, and I felt the suspense and intrigue of figuring out this larger mystery, but it also disappointed me. This was only further illustrated in the ending choice, which is just absolutely awful in terms of how it’s presented and how the characters rationalize it in the scenes that follow. It doesn’t end on a strong note, and what’s in between is full of highs and lows. The highs make it worth playing, but just expect to be shaking your head when those low points hit.
  6. Power Unlimited
    Sep 14, 2020
    71
    Tell Me Why keeps you invested and interested story-wise for the full nine hours, but is lacking in the gameplay department. It's clear that this genre in its current state is standing on its last legs.
  7. Game Rant
    Aug 27, 2020
    50
    Tell Me Why doesn't allow players to skip most of the dialogue in the game, meaning those going back through for collectibles or to see how different choices impact the story will experience a lot of deja vu. This inability to skip dialogue significantly brings down Tell Me Why's replay value, unfortunately.

See all 46 Critic Reviews

User Reviews

Write a Review
Score distribution:
  1. Positive: 61 out of 118
  2. Mixed: 18 out of 118
  3. Negative: 39 out of 118
  1. Harryhall3r
    Sep 13, 2020
    10
    One of the best stories of the year. Whoever adds 0 to any game here doesn't know what video games are, and clearly hasn't played this one
  2. babue
    Aug 28, 2020
    10
    Superbe histoire tres bon film interactif juste dommage qu'il n'y est pas de VF
  4. th4govn4
    Aug 30, 2020
    10
    No spoilers. THIS GAME IS MAKING XBOX AND MICROSOFT THE NEW GEN CHAMPIONS. The fluidity and open mindedness of the developers and MicrosoftNo spoilers. THIS GAME IS MAKING XBOX AND MICROSOFT THE NEW GEN CHAMPIONS. The fluidity and open mindedness of the developers and Microsoft Game Studios really shines throughout the story of this game. I have enjoyed and completed each section of Chapter 1 and CANNOT wait to get my hands on the rest. Thank you Microsoft and DONTNOD for giving me such an exhilarating and thought provoking campaign.… Expand
  5. Random_DS
    Sep 15, 2020
    8
    This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. Well... The game isn't on the same level as Life Is Strange 1, but that doesn't mean it's bad. Not every game can be a 10/10. First of all, I loved the Book Of Goblins a lot. All the detail put into the art and the actual stories is awesome. I really cared for the story too, even though I always had a sneaking suspicion, that Mary-Ann wouldn't ever kill their kids. She seemed to be too caring of a mother to ever do that. But the ending still wrecked me. (R.I.P. Leo).I was afraid of Tyler being trans before release, especially after what The Last of Us 2 was. But this game didn't actually force the subject to be the main focus. He was just trans, because that's who he is. The story spent the exact amount of time on the subject it needed to. And Alyson was a well crafted character too. So they nailed that as well.
    The graphics and the world design is classic Dontnod, no complaints there either.
    Where this game stumbles though, is the execution. There was just too much of looking for stuff to advance the story. Besides, when choosing between the memories, it was clear the second or third time, that you have to always choose the one that belongs to the twin you're not playing as, if you want to get the "good ending", and didn't want to tear them apart. This made those moments a little tamer than they should've been. And the same is kinda true for the final decision on the dock. It just doesn't make sense to choose to stick to your original memory of Mary-Ann thretening to kill Tyler.
    Some people also found some dialog slow and unnecessary, but personally, I thought they were just like they should be in a Dontnod game.

    So it's still solid overall, kinda on the level of Before The Storm, or a tad lower. I would've given it an 8.5 if Metacritic would allow .5 scores in the user reviews. But it clearly doesn't deserve a 9, so I had to bring it down to 8.
    But anyway, I would still recommend everyone to try this game out. It's also on Game Pass, so there's nothing to lose there.    … Expand
  6. zezeljmare
    Jun 21, 2021
    6
    EN:
    Average game, average dialogues, average characters. I was expecting a lot more from Dontnod, especially after the great games from the    EN:
    Average game, average dialogues, average characters. I was expecting a lot more from Dontnod, especially after the great games from the Life is Strange series. The world is beautiful, but unfortunately the story has no depth and extremely short.

    SRB:
    Prosečna igra, prosečni dijalozi, prosečni likovi. Očekivao sam mnogo više od Dontnod-a, pogotovo nakon sjajnih igara iz Life is Strange serijala. Svet je lep, ali nažalost priča nema dubinu i traje izuzetno kratko.    … Expand
  7. DrShalby
    Sep 6, 2020
    2
    At first, I was optimistic about the game before the release, but now, after playing it I regret every second I spent on this game. The GameAt first, I was optimistic about the game before the release, but now, after playing it I regret every second I spent on this game. The Game dialogues are weak, the narrative sucks, the game is longer than it should be in every act, it is boring, forcing you for specific choices, etc. The Walking dead telltale season 1 had great dialogues for an old game, why don't they learn from their writings?. I am really disappointed.
    The ONLY thing I liked about the game is the mountains, snow, locations. Anything else is a DISAPPOINTMENT.    … Expand
  8. infraphys
    Oct 2, 2021
    0
    Gratis con game pass, genial el juego por ese hecho y divertido si has jugado life is strange

See all 118 User Reviews

Trailers

Awards & Rankings

43
#43 Best Xbox One Game of 2020
12
#12 Most Discussed Xbox One Game of 2020