Tell Me Why

 Xbox One
User Score
5.9

Mixed or average reviews- based on 292 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 145 out of 292
  2. Mixed: 42 out of 292
  3. Negative: 105 out of 292

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  1. snorkiss
    Jan 21, 2021
    0
    So utterly devoid of anything remotely fun or interesting. This has to be one of the most awful video games ever made - 1 star
  2. Bone-Thugs
    Sep 3, 2020
    0
    super boring. pretty lame game, wont hold your interest, no thinking or skill involved, decisions have no real affect on anything. you will be bored the whole time
  3. colvg
    Sep 3, 2020
    0
    Lack of good story, only arrogant dialogue options, boring gameplay where you only have to search for things in an open area. Besides all of this, the game is featuring a lot of politics.
  4. darkmatter280
    Sep 6, 2020
    1
    Wow. Life is strange 2 got a bit woke but was still a good story with some interesting characters. This felt like it's only purpose was to be woke. I'm all for representation but it feels like it's at the expense of the story here. The main character Tyler, is just a bit of a brat. The gameplay was dull and slow paced and it's constantly talking about how he's trans. It panders to a tinyWow. Life is strange 2 got a bit woke but was still a good story with some interesting characters. This felt like it's only purpose was to be woke. I'm all for representation but it feels like it's at the expense of the story here. The main character Tyler, is just a bit of a brat. The gameplay was dull and slow paced and it's constantly talking about how he's trans. It panders to a tiny minority and unfortunately, trans identity is just not a subject that resonates with most people. When will the entertainment industry learn that we go to them for entertainment and not lectures… Expand
  5. Erocawaii
    Sep 6, 2020
    1
    Boring game that is constantly pandering to the current political climate. Stopped playing halfway through chapter 1 because the narrative felt so forced and repetitive. Glad it was accessed through PlayPass and didn't actually buy it.
  6. 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 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 theirAt 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
  7. doctordoom
    Aug 29, 2020
    0
    There is really nothing outstanding about this game from story to characters to pacing to the dialogue it really is just a bad game with no redeeming factors.

    This game is a story based game with a bad story. A game made for American audiences but it seems the English script can be off at times. The story has cliche story points where story points are just there to fill in time.    There is really nothing outstanding about this game from story to characters to pacing to the dialogue it really is just a bad game with no redeeming factors.

    This game is a story based game with a bad story.

    A game made for American audiences but it seems the English script can be off at times.

    The story has cliche story points where story points are just there to fill in time.

    The story's pacing and writing is just a bore and it is excruciating to finish it really is.    … Expand
  8. senyahdlanyar
    Sep 10, 2020
    2
    Mundane actions to perform in game, Tran main character is not likable, is a very self involved individual.
  9. fr8ctur3
    Feb 24, 2021
    3
    There are games that touch on social/political issues - then there is "Tell Me Why". Many times developers will attempt to weave a message into a game to provide some balance. NOT Tell Me Why. From the first dialogue and continuing through to the entire game, all you will hear about is Tyler's transgender transformation and insecurities. I'm all for representing every group and all,There are games that touch on social/political issues - then there is "Tell Me Why". Many times developers will attempt to weave a message into a game to provide some balance. NOT Tell Me Why. From the first dialogue and continuing through to the entire game, all you will hear about is Tyler's transgender transformation and insecurities. I'm all for representing every group and all, but this felt as the author made a conscious decision to bring up his transgender identification every 15 words, which made the game very uninteresting. Initially, I was hopeful but 30 minutes in, it just continued happening and it just made the whole game about that one thing. I wasn't enjoyable after that. Had they explored the twins trias as well, it would have balanced it out. I… Expand
  10. GetRaki
    Aug 22, 2021
    0
    Если после шедевральный первой части и приквела к ней вторая казалась местами слабовата, то эта часть просто позорище, зауши притянутые персонажи с такими же проблемами
  11. DrWANG
    Sep 3, 2020
    1
    Tell me why I should buy an Xbox? lol
    This game is boring af, man.
    Xbox has no games.
  12. Zwei76
    Sep 2, 2020
    1
    The Spanish translation is disastrous, horrible. I am sick of the mistreatment by Microsoft towards its Spanish users.
  13. pistasheo
    Aug 29, 2020
    4
    Life is Strange was AMAZING! This however is not as good. Zero connection or caring about the characters. I don't dislike or like them they are just meh. The game was designed for a specific group of players (which I am not one of) so that's probably why I feel a complete disconnect. So the first chapter was enough for me to know I'm all set with it.
  14. Duoraime
    Dec 10, 2020
    0
    Tell me why does this sh*t exist? Another sh*ty game with agenda. Tlou2 at least had amazing story, visual, sound and gameplay. This trash has nothing at all. Never play this garbage
  15. Steyraus
    Aug 29, 2020
    1
    Just like "Tell Tales Studios" before them that went out of business out of nowhere "Dont Nod Studios" is following the same pattern. Getting lucky on their first game with a charming little story with quirky relatable characters, people overlooked the flaws as they were a small team. But as time has gone they refuse to innovate, evolve or improve quality. Sticking to the same budgetJust like "Tell Tales Studios" before them that went out of business out of nowhere "Dont Nod Studios" is following the same pattern. Getting lucky on their first game with a charming little story with quirky relatable characters, people overlooked the flaws as they were a small team. But as time has gone they refuse to innovate, evolve or improve quality. Sticking to the same budget releases even though they are now making good money. They cant recreate the same lovable indie vibe as the first games, writing has gone down the toilet and Graphics and animations still look like high res XB360 games. Worst of all its still to same dull style of game play where you just wonder why they didnt just make a small badly animated cartoon it so basic and boring.
    From the very first line in the game the Cringe and off putting, it try to be shocking but with the awkward voice acting, banal diagonal and jerky animations it just painful.
    These story based games where the only interaction is slowly walking around looking at mundane objects while a character blabs out exposition are a chore at the best of times, but when the whole game feels budget and rushed it just all the worse. The story is no where near as compelling as whoever wrote it seems to think it was the character are not likable or dislikable, they are just there, the whole thing is just boring.
    Feels like the whole game was made for one specific type of person to give specifically high scores and if they did dont, they would run the risk of being called un desirable things on twitter and throughout the industry. Its trying very hard to be a thing of its times but just fails as an out of touch.    … Expand
  16. Magikjoker
    Aug 31, 2020
    0
    Очень слабый проект. Я не понимаю, как можно было создать такое? Трансгендеры, вы довольны?
  17. Dolmioman
    Dec 27, 2020
    0
    Woke boring crap, replies in conversations only give you agenda driven answers. Tyler is one arrogant unlikeable character. stopped playing it .
  18. JuniorCorreaSC
    Aug 30, 2020
    0
    Fraco! História fraca, personagens toscos. Apenas perdi tempo jogando isso, espero que melhore nos próximos episódios.
  19. Yourmumsbills
    Aug 29, 2020
    4
    So it seems that DONTNOD really are a one hit wonder. The original Life Is Strange was such an amazing game, great characters, compelling story and a fantastic soundtrack. Sadly nothing the studio has put out since has been much good at all. I was really hoping Tell Me Why would be a return to the LIS quality of game, Unfortunately this first episode is a massive let down. Gameplay wiseSo it seems that DONTNOD really are a one hit wonder. The original Life Is Strange was such an amazing game, great characters, compelling story and a fantastic soundtrack. Sadly nothing the studio has put out since has been much good at all. I was really hoping Tell Me Why would be a return to the LIS quality of game, Unfortunately this first episode is a massive let down. Gameplay wise it's pretty much the same formula they've been using since day one, with a couple of tweaks here and there, but nothing that really improves the gaming experience. The writing is fairly mediocre and the characters are just a bit flat and not particularly likeable. You just don't get that immediate connection with them as people that you had with Max and Chloe from LIS. Maybe this will pick up in the next 2 episodes, but LIS 2 started pretty drab in the same way, and that never got off the ground. So i'm not holding out much hope for this either. Tell Me Why (so far) is not a bad game, it's just a rather mediocre forgettable game that doesn't break from DONTNODs same old formula.… Expand
  20. pavelblau
    Aug 29, 2020
    4
    Sorry, but this game isnt good.
    Empty and purposeful characters,within real souls.
    If you want to say something important, maybe write the article in the newspaper, but dont make the game. Its boring and somehow unfair to players.
  21. Leojp
    Aug 31, 2020
    0
    Esto no es un juego, es solo una plataforma progre y política que da verguenza y no tiene nada que ver con los videojuegos

    Primero Sony con TLOU 2 y ahora Microsoft con esta panfleto progre

    Intentando justificar un asesinato de un trans... si fuese un hombre blanco y hetero ni habrían echo el juego, a la cárcel directamente

    VERGUENZA
  22. nightalon
    Aug 31, 2020
    0
    Horrível triste e sem graça ,dispensável é lento na narrativa poderiam ter feito mais e melhor
  23. Broyax
    Aug 30, 2020
    0
    Don't know, le développeur français de chez nous qui ne sait pas faire de jeux, surtout quand ils sont "vidéo" revient avec une daube épisodique dont il a le secret ! c'est une sorte de psychodrame familial à la petite semaine bien niais et ennuyeux, un mélange de telenovela, de "Plus belle la vie" et des "Feux de l'amour" !

    Mais avec une grosse couche de #vivre_ensemble et de    Don't know, le développeur français de chez nous qui ne sait pas faire de jeux, surtout quand ils sont "vidéo" revient avec une daube épisodique dont il a le secret ! c'est une sorte de psychodrame familial à la petite semaine bien niais et ennuyeux, un mélange de telenovela, de "Plus belle la vie" et des "Feux de l'amour" !

    Mais avec une grosse couche de #vivre_ensemble et de trans-quelque chose (aussi) ! c'est en vérité l'équivalent d'un film français intello-bobo standard qui se regarde le nombril en version adulescente avec dialogues lénifiants, choix ridicules et une lenteur à dormir debout... Le "jeu" en tant que tel est à peine et vaguement interactif et les voix sont toujours en anglais... remarquez, ce serait gâché et du temps perdu que de doubler une chienlit pareille en français.

    Graphiquement, ce n'est pas si laid et presque joli mais toujours très lisse, ce qui le met quoi qu'il en soit dans le haut du panier des étrons indés, soit quasiment un étron indé de luxe ! quasiment... ce plumage est en tout cas à l'image du ramage lisse et mièvre, tel un "ça te barbera"... On ne sait pas pourquoi on regarde ça ni pourquoi on "joue" à ça...

    C'est à dormir debout de bêtise et de ridicule pathétique... non, on n'y "joue" déjà plus, on l'a désinstallé rapidos mais une question demeure néanmoins : pourquoi faire un tel jeu de merde ? tell me why...    … Expand
  24. Pizza_
    Aug 29, 2020
    1
    eu odiei esse jogo, história fraca e forçada, representatividade forçada, plot forçado dms, e mt ruim, dou nota 1 pela direção de arte, mas o resto é uma bela duma bosta
  25. Tommyx1919
    Sep 18, 2020
    4
    This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. This game's story could of been good, one of the biggest problems is Tyler he is probably one of the most insufferable main characters ever. He is just to woke for my taste. I could forgive this if the story had a satisfying ending but you don't get one to be honest you get to decide how you remember things which is kind of cool but the problem with this is you have no idea if your thoughts line up with what actually happened. Also the biggest disappointment is how paper thin things are by the end we have no idea why Mary-Ann did what she did. which is the whole point in discovering what really happened that night. was it malice, was it depression, was she going insane.… Expand
  26. LastHope17
    Jan 15, 2021
    0
    Incredible in it's boringness. Gets high scores just for including minorities. Please make the stories better or whenever someone see's a game with minorities they'll think it's trash.
  27. Bragamot
    Oct 7, 2020
    0
    Pure trash and definetly the worst DotNot game ever made Boring gameplay, boring story and too much wokeness
  28. AntiPCPolice
    Jan 9, 2021
    0
    Worst snoozefest ever! Just imagine being stuck with a bratty, judgemental SJW who turns everything into drawn-out, unskippable virtue signaling lectures.
  29. Alberto4k
    Aug 29, 2020
    2
    El gameplay del juego es nefasto.
    Nada que ver a juegos como Gears of war, the last of us parte 2 y Death stranding. Es una serie interactiva realizada para rellenar el pass
  30. RWAVY24
    Aug 29, 2020
    0
    Horrible representation of the trans community i can't believe they allowed this
  31. Ginzuishou
    Sep 11, 2020
    4
    This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. After playing all 3 chapters, can safely say that this is no LIS or LIS2. It feels like DONTNOD was trying to be edgy with a trans lead, however, the story was not completely engaging. Chapter 1 was okay and held enough interest but chapters 2 and 3 the story felt rushed. I had Tom guessed as their father at the end of Chapter 1 and was correct as the story was too generic. Their gift felt like it was an afterthought of DONTNOD as the story would have progressed more fluidly without it. The very end where Tyler is talking to a character’s voicemail that had never been mentioned before in the entire game was definitely out of place. Had I been 12 and killed my mother by accident, I highly doubt I would be able to function in the same capacity as they wrote Alyson which absolutely destroyed a good chunk of liking this story. I applaud DONTNOD for groundbreaking a Trans lead character, which is fantastic and so long deserved. However, it needs to accompany a more deserving story and thought out plot. Unfortunately, this game did not live up to the hype. This game is no where near the quality of their previous work and that’s a shame.… Expand
  32. LightLion
    Sep 12, 2020
    0
    Pior jogo que já joguei, desenvolvimento extremamente lento, as escolhas não fazem a menor diferença, nem mesmo no final é mais parecido com uma novela em que você escolhe a próxima cena do que um jogo em si, não há jogabilidade é decepcionante
  33. ultraviper
    Dec 17, 2020
    3
    Compared to previous Dontnod games (ok, really just Life is Strange 1 and 2, I haven't played the others), the story is extremely weak. There were important things at stake in other games. Saving a town, saving lives, etc. Tell Me Why has no such stakes. A brother and sister are on a mission to... fill in the blanks of their childhood memories. A quest for education. Nobody is in danger.Compared to previous Dontnod games (ok, really just Life is Strange 1 and 2, I haven't played the others), the story is extremely weak. There were important things at stake in other games. Saving a town, saving lives, etc. Tell Me Why has no such stakes. A brother and sister are on a mission to... fill in the blanks of their childhood memories. A quest for education. Nobody is in danger. If they fail, nothing would be lost, they would just go on living life like they always have.

    Also it's locked to 30fps even on series X.    … Expand
  34. agent13
    May 6, 2021
    2
    this game is a boring mess you have no motive to keep playing, I love interactive movie like games such as quantic dream games and life is strange and even some telltale games, but tell me why is so slow and boring and it's story as a whole isn't good for a video game the only good thing about it is the visuals
  35. Simon1111
    Feb 1, 2022
    2
    Bad setting, bad strory, very borring. Oppressed minorities. Waste of time.
  36. Addidaswguy
    Dec 1, 2020
    1
    I loved Life is Strange. I loved Vampyr. I love DontNod. But this game is Super Woke, pushing an Agenda, and It was miserable to go through. I didn't like the main character, It is nothing like LiS, where I really liked the characters and really wanted to follow them through their story. And it's not because he/him is trans, lol. It's because they are pushing an Agenda, and they cared moreI loved Life is Strange. I loved Vampyr. I love DontNod. But this game is Super Woke, pushing an Agenda, and It was miserable to go through. I didn't like the main character, It is nothing like LiS, where I really liked the characters and really wanted to follow them through their story. And it's not because he/him is trans, lol. It's because they are pushing an Agenda, and they cared more about that then telling a great story.… Expand
  37. Benny555
    Jun 19, 2021
    1
    Life is Strange was a good game, Before the Storm was pretty good too, Life is Strange 2 was awful and this is worse, Dontnod are on a downward trajectory.

    Thankfully I got it on Game pass and could quickly uninstall it.
  38. infraphys
    Oct 2, 2021
    0
    Gratis con game pass, genial el juego por ese hecho y divertido si has jugado life is strange
  39. Tonnine
    Aug 29, 2021
    4
    LIS and LIS2 are good games, but this, this is a very uninteresting and boring game.

Awards & Rankings

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

Critic Reviews

All reviews »
Metascore
78

Generally favorable reviews - based on 45 Critic Reviews

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 30 out of 45
  2. Mixed: 15 out of 45
  3. Negative: 0 out of 45
  1. GamingBolt
    Oct 31, 2020
    80
    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.
    Read full review
  2. Atomix
    Sep 17, 2020
    75
    Tell Me Why tells a compelling story with some of the most memorable characters in videogames of recent years, but the narrative sometimes feels rushed and some of its best moments feel a little bit too short.
    Read full review
  3. TheXboxHub
    Sep 15, 2020
    90
    Tell Me Why on Xbox One is DONTNOD's strongest game to date. It is quiet, introspect, mature and superbly written and performed, with visuals that are easy on the eyes - the novel release approach also helps things. There are still some factors holding it back from perfection, but I sincerely hope this is the start of a great partnership between Xbox and DONTNOD, as I feel this game is a perfect example of the type of content Game Pass is perfect for delivering.
    Read full review
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