Many Dontnod games aim to tackle real-life social issues in compelling ways, but for Tell Me Why the developer took full advantage of an unreliable narrator to obscure the truth. Though Dontnod is better known for Life is Strange, Tell Me Why is a fresh story told through the perspective of twins Tyler and Alyson as they unravel the truth behind their late mother and what drove her death. The twins recollect memories differently, creating an inherent "unreliable narrator" that pushes the player to determine who or what they believe.
Typically, unreliable narrators are the sole character an audience understands the story through, and it is through subtext that an audience can see what they think happened versus what actually happened. In Tell Me Why, it is never certain what actually happened, as the only two perspectives given are both unreliable. By the game's conclusion, it's arguable that the player is as involved in telling the story as the characters, subverting this classic trope.
Unreliable Narration in Tell Me Why
The game starts by talking about Mary-Ann, the twins' mother, being killed. But this isn't shown as it's a young Tyler who confesses to the murder in self-defense. This teases some of Tell Me Why's core themes about uncertainty and belief given player can only take Tyler at his word. Over the course of Tell Me Why's story, it's gradually revealed that all might not be as it seems.
This evidence being unraveled also touches upon Tyler's transgender identity in a nuanced way. Tyler's perspective of his early childhood caused him to believe that Mary-Ann did not accept his identity, hinted at by scenes where she misgenders him. But when the twins discover a book titled "Raising Your Transgender Child," he and the player are forced to question if this was ever true. This and other moments in the story allow the unreliable narrator to unfold, further complicated by Alyson's perspective on events.
Given Tyler's transgender status and confession to the killing, much of the player's attention is naturally drawn to him. However, it's suggested that Alyson also has memories of their mother's death that differ from Tyler's. Throughout the game, their contrasting perspectives drive the narrative as players decide between the two. Yet in moments like trying to identify the Mad Hunter, it's clear that they are both equally unreliable narrators, casting doubt over the entire affair.
Tell Me Why's True Ending
In Tell Me Why's conclusion, once it has been revealed that Alyson killed Mary-Ann, the question becomes whether she was also going to kill Tyler following her mental breakdown. The player makes a choice whether to believe that Alyson saved Tyler or if she was mistaken. Though there is a canonical ending that sees the twins moving on and coming to terms with their mother's death, it remains uncertain what actually happened that night even as the twins agree to a single truth.
Though the characters move on, players are left in doubt, as they will have come to learn about Mary-Ann's life and mental state before and during the twins' lives. From dealing with mental health issues to trauma from her firstborn son dying, players realize Mary-Ann was struggling too. As the game doesn't provide a definitive answer, the player is left to decide for themselves, becoming a sort of unreliable narrator themselves through their choices in-game.
Tell Me Why is available now on PC and Xbox One.