Tell Me Why
76
CriticDB
Rating

Tell Me Why

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, twins Tyler and Alyson Ronan use thei... See more

Released:2020-08-27
Genre:
Puzzle, Adventure
Platforms:
PC (Microsoft Windows), Xbox One
Developer:DON'T NOD
Publisher:
Xbox Game Studios

Official Trailer

Tell Me Why Trailer
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Reviews

Professional reviews from gaming critics

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GameSpew

Kim Snaith

10/10

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. D...

Aug 27, 2020 Read Full Review
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DualShockers

Ryan Meitzler

8/10

Tell Me Why isn't a major deviation from what we expect from episodic narrative experiences, but it's one of the few that feels like it has really gotten the storytelling format right for video games. At three episodes in length, the series feels concise and well-paced, and with its new chapters releasing weekly, players won't experience a protracted wait between new episodes that happened with Li...

Aug 27, 2020 Read Full Review
Unscored

The pacing makes this one a very slow burn, but Tell Me Why is a good entry into Dontnod's library of stories about families and sad magic.

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GamingBolt

Shubhankar Parijat

8/10

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 i...

Sep 14, 2020 Read Full Review
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COGConnected

Patrick Anderson

80/100

It’s been days since I’ve finished Tell Me Why, from DONTNOD, but I’m still thinking about it. To answer your first question, no it’s not another Life is Strange game. But it could have been. It’s got a lot of the same aspects – a choice-based episodic story, duel protagonists, a small town setting, a search for the truth. But it feels different somehow, more mature. The story of Alyson and Tyler ...

There's no singular moment or element that stands out to make it an amazing experience, but looking back I'm quite happy that the game exists and that I got to play it. The story of Tyler and Alyson is worth experiencing and will live with you long after the credits roll.

Aug 27, 2020 Read Full Review
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GamePressure

Anonymous

8/10

The new game from the creators of Life is Strange brings a surprisingly sensible approach to difficult subjects, as well as some very powerful emotions and messages.

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GameSpot

Justin Clark

7/10

Tell Me Why puts Dontnod's usual bag of tricks to good use in an empathetic but somewhat toothless narrative.

Sep 10, 2020 Read Full Review
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Twinfinite

Chris Jecks

Tell Me Why is one of those games you're best experiencing for yourself. The narrative's engaging and mysterious, its characters are well-written and likable, and the varied gameplay keeps things fresh to help you push through to the end.

Aug 27, 2020 Read Full Review
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IGN

Janet Garcia

7/10

Tell Me Why’s well-written dialogue, mundane yet charming exploration, and whimsical fairy tale angle makes digging into the town of Delos Crossing a good story with decent puzzles. It’s just that the low-stakes decisions and an underwhelming mystery plot left me searching for more depth and consequences in the search for the truth.

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PC Gamer

Sam Greer

69/100

Dontnod's adventure fails to live up to its grounded premise.

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Game Rant

Dalton Cooper

5/10

Most will likely have had their fill of Tell Me Why after a single playthrough, and with only three Chapters, the game takes under 10 hours to complete, and not much longer to find all of the collectibles. That being said, Tell Me Why will have a weekly release schedule for its three Chapters, which may actually be to its benefit in terms of the story's pacing. It's also worth mentioning that Tell...

Aug 27, 2020 Read Full Review