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.
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.
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.
7
[SPOILER ALERT: This review contains spoilers.]
0
A horrible piece of propaganda: woke, left-wing, and utterly repulsive. Go play this garbage yourselves.
1
A leftist, boring, sappy excuse for a game. Skip it and play some proper interactive games.
Tell Me Why
Released On:
Aug 27, 2020
Metascore
Generally Favorable
78
User score
Mixed or Average
5.8
My Score
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All Platforms
Metascore
Generally Favorable
67% Positive
30 Reviews
30 Reviews
33% Mixed
15 Reviews
15 Reviews
0% Negative
0 Reviews
0 Reviews
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.
Aug 27, 2020
90
Tell Me Why might lack the excitement of time travel or superhuman abilities but its subdued tone works in its favor as a tightly paced and progressive character drama.
User score
Mixed or Average
43% Positive
185 Ratings
185 Ratings
24% Mixed
103 Ratings
103 Ratings
33% Negative
145 Ratings
145 Ratings
Jun 25, 2024
10
It's not easy for me to give a good rating to a particular game because it's hard to find a story game among so much multiplayer but (Tell my why) wow, I didn't expect much from this game the first minutes but I managed to catch myself in the story and after an hour I didn't want this to ever end. This game has all my respects.
Dec 20, 2022
10
Great story, great characters, great visuals, "The book of goblins" and the final room is very good art and lightning. I'm so sorry for the whole bunch of people voting 0 for a character being trans or a "woke story". This game is not about being trans, it almost takes only 5% or less of the dialogues. If you're not ok being a trans character you can play other games and be a goat, a supermutant or a cat.
Sep 3, 2020
80
You could say that Tell Me Why is about the journey and not the destination, and that journey is indeed a compelling one. And it’s complex; with violence, dysfunction and mental illness featuring prominently, it’s a dark tale in many ways. But it is also one full of hope as well – in the unlikely love that can bring two outsiders together, in the mental bond that literally connects two siblings, and in the liberating power of the truth. You’ll come away from playing Tell Me Why feeling a lot of things – sadness, optimism, confusion, disappointment. I can’t tell you which of these you’ll feel when you play it … but you should play it.
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.
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.
Aug 27, 2020
70
Dontnod continues to lead the world in terms of character diversity and representation, and while Tell Me Why’s story can sometimes lack drama it’s still engagingly interactive.
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.
Dec 20, 2021
10
Awesome game it's amazing and interesting to me and incredibly cool and great graphics
Jul 25, 2025
7
Falls just short of Dontnod's best work, and some of the plot elements can be a bit too sensationalist, but still overall a moving and thoughtful examination of complex family dynamics, changing attitudes about gender identity, and beginning adult life away from home.
Aug 29, 2021
4
LIS and LIS2 are good games, but this, this is a very uninteresting and boring game.
SummaryTell 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-... Read More
Rated Mfor Mature
Platforms:
- Xbox One
- PC
- Xbox Series X
Initial Release Date:Aug 27, 2020
Developer:
Publisher:
