Windows Central Insider
If you're looking for a new game to play on Xbox or PC and enjoy narrative adventure experiences, you'll be happy to hear that there's an Xbox and PC exclusive title in that genre that you can download and play right now, completely free of charge.
The game in question is Tell Me Why, the 2020 narrative adventure game from DONTNOD Entertainment that I'd argue is very slept on and has unfortunately gone under the radar. It was the first title the studio made after finishing Life is Strange 2 in 2019, and while it never pulled in a particularly large audience, it was well-received by fans and critics alike.
Microsoft and Xbox have made Tell Me Why free to own for all of June, undoubtedly to celebrate Pride Month; one of its two playable protagonists is a transgender man named Tyler, and the game features a queer man in the story as well. It was developed with consulting from GLAAD, an organization that provides guidance for authentic LGBTQIA+ representation.
Though the game's first chapter is free-to-play at all times, its second and third ones are normally bundled together for $20. Right now, though, you can get them for free as well (on both Xbox consoles and Xbox on PC, with full Xbox Play Anywhere support) thanks to Xbox's month-long offer — and once they're in your library, they're yours forever.
Tell Me Why is centered around the story of twin siblings, Tyler and Alyson Ronan, as they reunite with one another in their Alaskan hometown and look into their mother's death. Like Life is Strange, there's a supernatural power that plays a major role in the narrative; in this case, it's the ability for Tyler and Alyson to communicate with one another telepathically.
The story explores each sibling's childhood traumas, with the differences in how they remember certain events as well as the bond they share at the heart of the narrative. Overall, the game has a tighter structure than something like Life is Strange and is more subtle with its storytelling and character development, but I found it just as touching and thoughtful in the end.
In our review of Tell Me Why, we wrote that while it may not reach "the same heights" as Life is Strange, it still "tells a story worth telling in regards to grief, trauma, and growing up queer. DONTNOD's always found success in creating lovable characters, and it's no different here with Alyson and Tyler."
In terms of its reception from the wider community, the exclusive has a "Generally Favorable" 78/100 score on Metacritic, with most praising its writing highly but finding the gameplay a bit uninspired. Also, 80% of its 7,849 Steam user reviews are positive, giving it a "Very Positive" badge on that platform.
While I wouldn't call Tell Me Why a must-play experience by any means, I'm definitely glad I played through it a few years ago, and I recommend that you do the same. After all, right now, it's completely free. Why not give it a shot?
Will you pick up Tell Me Why on Xbox or PC while it's free to own this month? Drop a comment to let me know why or why not.
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