Tell Me Why

In gaming, sometimes it's the play that drives the experience, and other times it's the story, but for narrative-driven interactive tales, it's all about the story. Tell My Why doesn't just meet the standard for storytelling, it sets a high bar for future games of this type. What begins as the twins' quest to come to terms with their childhood traumas quickly evolves into an even greater message of understanding, perception, and finding the strength to move forward. The story and its mystery are built on some pretty heavy topics such as mental health, cultural and religious beliefs, and gender identity. And yet, even though these are used in a gaming environment, these issues are never trivialized. They're treated with real respect and shown from multiple points of view without trying to pass any sort of judgment. By giving players the power of choice, and the ability to see how certain decisions can completely alter the lives of themselves and others, it not only gives the players an opportunity to reflect on their own views, but also opens the door for further dialogue.

The gameplay is almost an afterthought, but it's still got some interesting elements. The occasional puzzle pops up to challenge the player's deductive reasoning and problem-solving skills. Sometimes these can be a bit jarring when they interrupt the flow of the story, but they never get in the way of progressing further. The twins' apparent psychic bond is the real twist. There are key times and locations when the twins are able to manifest past memories in a tangible way. It's these moments when they, and the player, can dig deeper into events of the past, uncovering clues and hidden details that can change the course of events. But events recalled by one twin don't always synch with the memories of the other. After observing and investigating both sides, the player is left with the hard choice of deciding which memory to lock in as reality. These branches in the plot affect not only the outcome of the story, but the relationship between Tyler and Alyson. And at the end of each episode, players can see how their choices compare to those made by others, once again giving them a chance to reflect on what led to those decisions, and how those decisions can even give insight to the player as much as the characters they meet.