Dontnod Entertainment is a bit of a golden child when it comes to game developers. Since their first game in 2013, they’ve built a reputation on in-depth characters and interesting stories. From the ambitious gameplay of Vampyr, to the strong narratives in the Life is Strange series; Dontnod’s games are loved by critics and consumers alike. In an age of bombastic shooter looters and open-world stealth games, it’s nice to see someone offering up something different. For their sixth game, Dontnod continue this strong showing with Tell Me Why

Before we get into the nitty-gritty, I want to clarify a few things. While the first chapter releases today, with 2 and 3 to being released the following weeks; I’ve been fortunate to play the complete game. So this review will not cover only chapter one, but the entire experience. It’s also worth noting: I’m a trans writer and this game was set to be a big deal when it comes to Trans Representation, so I kind of feel like the cat that caught the canary. But Tell Me Why is a story-driven game. Its main draw is its narrative. So, to make sure you don’t have your experience ruined, this review will be spoiler-free.

Tell Me Why is a game about dealing with grief and reconciling the past. The story follows twins, Alyson and Tyler, as they return to their childhood home in Delos Crossing, Alaska. Together, the twins are determined to uncover the truth surrounding events ten years ago that tore their family apart. But it’s not that simple. The house won’t give up the truth easily, and the residents of Delos Crossing keep their secrets close to their chest. Plus, after ten years, reliving the past may prove to be too painful. As the twins dig deeper, lines begin to blur and they discover that perhaps things aren’t as clear cut as they thought.

The story and characters are the games biggest strength. Delos Crossing feels fleshed out and fully realised. There’s an air of authenticity to it all. As you explore its locations, you get a feel for what seems like a rustic, if somewhat idealised, small town. The same can be said for the inhabitants. Eddy, Tessa, Tom, Sam, and Michael all felt genuine. They speak in a sort of down to earth dialogue. Carrying out a conversation and its progression felt natural. Or as natural as video game conversations could get. There were however some moments that seemed a little forced or awkward. The worst offender was the conversations between Michael and Tyler, which reeked of shoehorned romance. But overall, this is Dontnod at their best.

The most in-depth character would have to be Tyler. Tyler is the first playable transgender protagonist in a videogame. And as you play, you realise just how serious Dontnod treated that. A lot of care and attention went into creating Tyler. From consultation with GLADD, to major creative contributions from transgender and non-conforming staff from developer studio, and the publisher, Xbox; Dontnod has done everything they can to ensure that Tyler is a genuine, good-faith representation of a trans character. August Black, Tyler’s VA, also contributed, editing the script if he felt a line wouldn’t do justice to Tyler’s story.

So many trans characters in popular narratives are rooted in trauma and pain. They’re abused, or they’re deadnamed, or misgendered repeatedly. More often than not their desire to transition is shown as being the cause of some kind of childhood trauma. Transitioning, and the lives of trans characters are always depicted as a tragedy in three acts. But Tyler and the narrative surrounding him are different. Tyler is never deadnamed, only ever referred to as Tyler or his previous masc name, Ollie. And He’s never misgendered. And while violence does happen, it’s not his origin story, nor is it a common occurrence. His past isn’t rooted in trauma. he’s not a punching bag for the game’s cheap thrills masked as acceptance.  All in all, Tyler feels like a breath of fresh air

Like a lot of Dontnod’s other titles, Tell me Why has a splash of the supernatural. The twins possess an ability called ‘The Voice’. It acts as a psychic link that allows the twins to share their thoughts and feelings. It also allows them to relive memories from the past. These abilities play into the game quite heavily. Whenever a memory or psychic conversation is available, the screen takes on a hazy filter. the controller will also begin to vibrate like a heartbeat; getting faster the closer you are to the memory. It’s great little visual and sensory prompt; one that clues you in instantly

This power is arguably the heart and soul of the gameplay loop.  Whether it’s to solve a puzzle or gather evidence; most of your time will be spent reliving and experiencing old memories. As the game goes on, you’ll have to choose between the twin’s conflicting memories, which will influence how you approach the characters in those memories.  Through their psychic link, the twins can talk to each other during conversations with others. This allows them to consult each other on their next step and opens new dialogue options.

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The game isn’t without its faults. There are times where controlling Alyson or Tyler feels like trying to maneuver a slow-rolling tank. The AI’s pathfinding was just as strange. Sometimes I would find one of the twins stuck to a railing or inside a couch. Other times I would find myself constantly bumping into my twin when trying to navigate close spaces. Hair would also clip into Alyson’s face, causing hair to sprout out of her mouth and nose at times. The game also has the same problem Life is Strange did, where the frame rate would drop or stutter every so often. It wasn’t bad enough to completely pull me out of the story,, just a bit distracting. Couple this with some annoying, and superfluous minigames, and well. It quickly becomes clear the game isn’t quite a masterpiece.