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. SuperkenGaming
    Jan 2, 2021
    7
    Tell Me Why
    Twin Power
    Tell Me Why is a 7 and a halfhour 3 chapter long cinnmeatic adventure game where you play as two twins, Alyson and her trans twin brother tyler, the set up of the story is that tylers mom was going to kill him because she found out he wanted to be a boy, so he stabbed her in self defense, 10 years later youre released and reuniting with your twin sister. The main    Tell Me Why
    Twin Power
    Tell Me Why is a 7 and a halfhour 3 chapter long cinnmeatic adventure game where you play as two twins, Alyson and her trans twin brother tyler, the set up of the story is that tylers mom was going to kill him because she found out he wanted to be a boy, so he stabbed her in self defense, 10 years later youre released and reuniting with your twin sister. The main focus is understanding why your mom would try and kill you, reliving your memories with Alyson using your twin powers, not much gameplay here really, walk around, find memories, occasionally do puzzles, the only thing that’s going to keep you pushing is this unique story and its mystery, something dontnod is great it, you cant wait to start the next chapter thanks to its mysterious endings, even if the rest of the game is a drag.. and sadly it is.. Tell My Why’s biggest issue is its pacing, it has so many great story telling and cinematic moments, but so after the story is needlessly drug out to try and hit that 8 hour long number, I don’t want to be sifting through folders in a police station for 20 minutes, I don’t want to be sitting on a fairy just waiting for this ride to be over, walking around the house and figuring out what I can interact with to throw a sticky note on it… Tell Me Why’s story could’ve been told if half the time… it really is tough to get through thanks to these lengthy snooze fest sections…
    But ultimately its story pulled me through…
    I didn’t care much for this world or its characters, but I was after the same answers as tyler was the whole time, and in that.. Tell Me Why succeeds
    I give Tell Me Why
    a 7/10    … Expand
  2. gkeeganofficial
    Sep 14, 2020
    6
    Tell Me Why is the next game from Dontnod Studios: the creators of the Life is Strange series, one of my favorite videogame series of all time. As with these games, Tell Me Why features a choice-based narrative with supernatural elements and taking a deeper look into the main characters' lives, personalities and minds. Something few games are doing nowadays. I was excited for this game,Tell Me Why is the next game from Dontnod Studios: the creators of the Life is Strange series, one of my favorite videogame series of all time. As with these games, Tell Me Why features a choice-based narrative with supernatural elements and taking a deeper look into the main characters' lives, personalities and minds. Something few games are doing nowadays. I was excited for this game, expecting a heart-wrenching yet beautiful story and being forced to make difficult choices. However, the final product left me very disappointed.

    I tried not to compare Tell Me Why to Life is Strange, but it was hard considering the studio's legacy and how high they set the bar with those games. This game is the story of Alyson and Tyler Ronan: two twins who after a tragic accident have to be separated at a young age. When they are reunited a decade later, they start to unravel secrets of their past that change the entire perspective of their lives.

    As with Life is Strange, there is a supernatural element to the game. The twins have the ability to remember things that happened years ago watching them play out in the present. This is something that looked cool in the trailers, but in the game it is extremely boring and doesn't really do much. They also have the ability to talk to each other through their minds, this is an something that you only get to use two times in the entire game. And it is completely useless. The dialog choices and story are extremely linear, there are absolutely no difficult decisions that you have to make.

    The technical aspects of the game were bad. The conversations and interactions felt insanely videogamey and unrealistic. It was a massive downgrade from. Basically Tell Me Why is like playing through a 9-long hour cutscene. I got so bored towards the end that I started making all the wrong and intense choices just to make the game more interesting. And still nothing much happened in the story.    … Expand
  3. Rubisan
    Mar 28, 2021
    6
    Interesting in matters of inclusion but quite boring and slow... It feels quite real (it could be perfectly a real world story) and it has some positive and interesting things, but in terms of mechanic or action, you need patience with this one. In the end, I liked the characters and how they were growing up while living again certain memories of the past with an adult mind/perspective.Interesting in matters of inclusion but quite boring and slow... It feels quite real (it could be perfectly a real world story) and it has some positive and interesting things, but in terms of mechanic or action, you need patience with this one. In the end, I liked the characters and how they were growing up while living again certain memories of the past with an adult mind/perspective. But... it could have been much better in my opinion if a little bit longer, maybe? When I was starting to feel connected to the characters, I was already getting at the end of the game.… Expand
  4. Xbox_Alive
    Sep 14, 2020
    7
    Tell Me Why is the latest narrative adventure game from DONTNOD Entertainment, the studio behind the beloved franchise, Life is Strange. In this intimate mystery, reunited twins Tyler and Alyson Ronan use their supernatural bond to unravel the mysteries of their loving but troubled childhood. Set in beautiful small-town Alaska, Tell Me Why features true-to-life characters, mature themesTell Me Why is the latest narrative adventure game from DONTNOD Entertainment, the studio behind the beloved franchise, Life is Strange. In this intimate mystery, reunited twins Tyler and Alyson Ronan use their supernatural bond to unravel the 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. As you conjure up memories of the past, your choices will affect the twins’ relationship, determine the strength of their bond, and shape the course of their lives. Tell Me Why unfolds across three chapters, all of which released the summer of 2020 and allows 3 chapters of gameplay to enjoy. This is quite an unusual game ad it's either going to be a love or hate experience for players, just make sure to give it's fair shake when you finally tae the time to sit down with it on your Xbox One.… Expand
  5. Kromez7
    Aug 30, 2020
    5
    I really enjoyed Life is Strange and actually enjoyed LIS 2 as well, that said this game overall disappoints me. Chapter 1 was predictable and I didn't find any of the characters incredibly interesting. With it being as short as it is, I still found myself bored enough to take a break in the middle. I was really looking forward to this game as a fan of DONTNOD but now I am just glad I'mI really enjoyed Life is Strange and actually enjoyed LIS 2 as well, that said this game overall disappoints me. Chapter 1 was predictable and I didn't find any of the characters incredibly interesting. With it being as short as it is, I still found myself bored enough to take a break in the middle. I was really looking forward to this game as a fan of DONTNOD but now I am just glad I'm playing it on Game Pass and I didn't pay for my own copy.… Expand
  6. garyw_81
    Aug 31, 2020
    5
    This game has no story, pretty damming for a stroy driven game.
    you can't just put a trans male in a game and that's it, that's the sum total of your story.
    life is strange worked so well because the story was so great and the bi/gay characters were the icing on the cake. conversely this game has a trans character with a story that has no real substance.
  7. iMustang
    Jul 25, 2021
    5
    I was hopeful playing a game by the creators of the esteemed Life is Strange would capture some of the charm or passion of the work so often praised… unfortunately, I now have a better understanding of why no one has talked about Tell Me Why since it’s release. This is one of the most exceedingly average games I’ve ever played, created with a clear lack of love or care for their world,I was hopeful playing a game by the creators of the esteemed Life is Strange would capture some of the charm or passion of the work so often praised… unfortunately, I now have a better understanding of why no one has talked about Tell Me Why since it’s release. This is one of the most exceedingly average games I’ve ever played, created with a clear lack of love or care for their world, characters, story, and so utterly devoid of anything that could be called “fun.” This story was promoted as a sort of supernatural mystery game, with two twins using psychic powers to interrogate people and learn the truth of their past. Instead the final product is a depressing adventure in a tiny town filled with the most bland and uninteresting cast, with the only mystery to be found being how awful they all are. Every time you think the plot may go somewhere, it completely and inappropriately halts for nonsense scenes and dialogue that means nothing to the story. This gets so bad at a point where you go from needing to interrogate a store owner, to instead having a plushie battle with one of her employees. Another time a character goes from talking about how emotional they are learning details of their deceased mother, to talking about plastic surgery they want to have after selling their house. That’s this whole game in a nutshell - Every time you think something cool or mysterious will happen in the plot, inappropriate filler actions/conversations force themselves in. It’s a mess.

    What’s truly tragic here is this game was a very good chance to introduce inclusion as a normality for those playing it, maybe even giving them a chance to learn more about people in the demographic and understanding them better. Instead they decided to focus so much on a message they were attempting to portray it not only killed any chance this game had for a good story or characters, it killed any chance it had to be a good game. Completely predictable plot that lead absolutely nowhere, characters who spent the game whining instead of developing, some of the easiest puzzles ever solved, and completely devoid of any charm. It’s been a long time since I’ve played a game with so much wasted potential, and while I can’t say I hate it, I certainly can’t say I liked any of it either. A laugh here, or a cute moment there, sure. A good game, story, lovable cast, or memorable experience? No where to be found.    … Expand
  8. ttj101gr
    Jun 6, 2021
    6
    This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. First 2 episodes are great, 3 is just ok.
    The main problem is the too much attention to Tyler and i don't get why he gets only one romance option. He chose his gender and he cant choose his romance?    … Expand
  9. BradMorgan
    Apr 1, 2022
    6
    A tragic story with impactful moments. However, the stoytelling manner is painfully slow at times. The gameplay mechanics remain basic troughout the game but are enough to empathize with the characters. The art style and the soundtrack are strong yet, in the end this is not a must play game.

    Pros:
    - Story
    - Art style
    - Soundtrack

    Cons:
    - Facial animations
    - Character animations
    - Gameplay
  10. HypeChecked
    Sep 4, 2020
    7
    i approached the game in a sentiment " oh look another Sjw game " but to be honest this was a legit good narrative game in the first episode. Protagonists are really likeable and i can get behind the personal drama even though i dislike sjw stuff. Way better pacing than the dreaded Life is strange 2. This feels like a good narrative game with a legit drama unlike the agenda lis2 had.i approached the game in a sentiment " oh look another Sjw game " but to be honest this was a legit good narrative game in the first episode. Protagonists are really likeable and i can get behind the personal drama even though i dislike sjw stuff. Way better pacing than the dreaded Life is strange 2. This feels like a good narrative game with a legit drama unlike the agenda lis2 had. People like me that hate SJWs give this a chance . Its a 7 for me and it could go up or down when i get to play the other 2 episodes.… Expand
  11. Th3KinG
    Nov 30, 2020
    7
    Tell Me Why is a solid game with an intriguing story. There were some ups and downs throughout in terms of the strength of the storytelling, but overall I enjoyed it and would recommend others to give it a shot as well.
  12. rafa_barsi
    Dec 11, 2020
    7
    Only for those who really (I mean really) like Life is Strange.
    The game has a nice story, which gets better and better when you reach the second chapter. I wouldn`t recommend for people who never played LiS and for people that does not like this kind of game. It`s a nice experience, but way too slow.
    The mundane actions and the lack of dynamics regarding the objects you interact with    Only for those who really (I mean really) like Life is Strange.
    The game has a nice story, which gets better and better when you reach the second chapter. I wouldn`t recommend for people who never played LiS and for people that does not like this kind of game. It`s a nice experience, but way too slow.
    The mundane actions and the lack of dynamics regarding the objects you interact with makes you wonder why there are so many objects to interact with. I mean, on LiS I always had the feeling that an object could give valuable information, even if it was mundane. Also, the comments from the characters explained a little bit of their personality as well. TMW is so mundane with this interactions that at one point I just decided to go direct to the main triggers of the story, not interacting with anything else.
    It`s a good game and the ending is really great, really compensates the lack of dynamics during the whole process of getting there. I wouldn't pay the full retail price, but it`s a great opportunity to play on Game Pass (like I did).    … Expand
  13. materonin
    Apr 24, 2021
    7
    ➕ fantastycznie napisane postacie
    ➕ świetny, małomiasteczkowy klimat
    ➕ organiczny level design

    ➖ motywy nadprzyrodzone wprowadzone na siłę
    ➖ miejscami powtarzalna do bólu
    ➖ dosyć krótka
  14. Elayuwoki
    Jun 1, 2021
    7
    Está bien pero si quería leer demasiado texto hubiese leído un libro el 50% del juego son textos que hay que leer si o si de resto está bien el paisaje los gráficos, no me gustó el chico trans ya que era una niña linda y ahora parecía un tipo engreído
  15. 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 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    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
  16. Xbluannax
    Nov 20, 2021
    7
    After playing life is strange I downloaded this off gamepass to see what it was like. I enjoy story games. Really enjoyed it reminded me of life is strange some of puzzles a bit confusing but loved the storyline and characters.
  17. ehtaco
    Feb 4, 2023
    5
    I didn't enjoy this game at all. Especially when comparing it to other similar games like the entire Life is Strange series. The story did nothing for me and the journey to see it through felt agonizing. It's one of the more boring games of this type I have ever played, and one of the least interesting.

    The key to a game like this is story & characters and I think it misses the mark on    I didn't enjoy this game at all. Especially when comparing it to other similar games like the entire Life is Strange series. The story did nothing for me and the journey to see it through felt agonizing. It's one of the more boring games of this type I have ever played, and one of the least interesting.

    The key to a game like this is story & characters and I think it misses the mark on both those fronts for me. I wanted to quit after the first chapter, but I wanted to give it a fair chance, so I completed it. I thought maybe there'd be a really big payoff and conclusion, but there was not. Even the worst of the Life is Strange, Telltale, and Super Massive games have memorable characters and moments. This, again, does not. At least for me.    … Expand
  18. Sadra_The_Gamer
    Mar 7, 2023
    7
    Tell me Why is a title that I definitely recommend to fans of interactive games, especially Life is Strange, and don't doubt that its emotional, attractive and very unique story will always remain in your mind. Also, the game has a very good gameplay, which is really admirable for a game of this genre. The characterization of the characters is also great and you can relate to them well.Tell me Why is a title that I definitely recommend to fans of interactive games, especially Life is Strange, and don't doubt that its emotional, attractive and very unique story will always remain in your mind. Also, the game has a very good gameplay, which is really admirable for a game of this genre. The characterization of the characters is also great and you can relate to them well. But unfortunately, I saw negative points in my experience that made me give such a grade. First, let me address the extreme weakness in face animations, which is literally insulting for a game released in 2020. The next point is extremely strange for such a game! Usually in interactive games, the opinions and morals of the characters should be done by the players, but unfortunately, sometimes important dialogues are chosen by the game! Of course, be careful that only "sometimes". Otherwise, very important choices are still in the hands of the players. Something that is strange for a title in 2020 is that the characters are sometimes soulless and hollow and robot-like, but on the other hand, they are sometimes extremely good. Character designers seem to be divided into two groups of rookies and those who who know what to do! And we have reached the last weakness, let me start by saying that Tell me Why consists of 3 chapters that chapters 1 and 3 are extremely good. But this is not the case in Chapter 2, and it seems that the main writers spent time in the bathroom during the making of Chapter 2! This chapter was so boring, stereotyped and weak that I almost deleted the game right there! But thank God I didn't do that and I was able to see the very good, beautiful and emotional ending of this game.… Expand

Awards & Rankings

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

Critic Reviews

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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.
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  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.
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  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.
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