Tell Me Your Story review – A picture-book perfect shared adventure

One of society’s greatest failings is the way that we forget the elderly, cloistered away as they often are, were young once too; that they had experiences closer to our own – or even wild adventures beyond our imagining. That’s a heavy observation to associate with such a light, cosy game as Tell Me Your Story, but it sits at the core of the new story-driven indie puzzler from RedDeer.Games.

The premise of Tell Me Your Story is that young Amelia, with her corgi Peanut, goes to spend time with her Grandma Rose, who has just moved into a country cottage. In the process of helping to unpack and tidy up, Amelia discovers items that reveal her grandmother’s surprising, globe-trotting past, which took her to far-flung places like the Amazon, and China’s tea-producing, picturesque Yunnan province.

Tell Me Your Story’s trip down memory lane takes the form of two to three hours of point-and-click activities that range from chores like clearing away cobwebs, washing crockery and following recipes, to pattern matching, sticker book placements and a gentler spin on ye olde Tower of Hanoi challenge.

There are some real puzzle and interactive gems among the more mundane asks, although at the end of the day, Tell Me Your Story’s big selling point is its beautiful storybook-style visuals, courtesy of artists Karolina Wójt and Kamila Osińska. The game makers clearly understand the appeal too, because you can download art books of the three main characters as purchasable DLC.

The eye-catching illustration, in combination with its household puzzle component, and familial focus, means Tell me Your Story should appeal to players who enjoyed the likes of Venba and A Little to the Left – both compact, casual games with a hand-drawn 2D art style and relaxing organisational puzzles. Tell Me Your Story simply skews a bit younger tonally in player base appeal.

On that note, just like Amelia and Grandma Rose embark on a nostalgic expedition together, there’s a strong sense that Tell Me Your Story is best experienced with a partner. The game is single player, but as something consciously made for all ages, it comes across as a title that would be enjoyed by a parent (or grandparent) and child combining their brainpower.

Sometimes that combo feels very necessary as the entirely textless puzzles can be obscure, and the interaction points so tiny and precise that you may miss them, which is frustrating. Fortunately there is a hint system available – a smart inclusion – and if you pay attention, items on the screen may wiggle as an extra clue to reach the solution.

Speaking of the hint system, what initially appears exciting and welcome is in reality a bit unsatisfying. You have to solve a jigsaw-esque repair puzzle to unlock three hints at a time, except it’s the exact same challenge whenever you need help. More variety would have been welcome.

Narratively, Tell Me Your Story may have also benefited from a more conventional delivery of its tale. The game is officially described as being “about connection, adventure and the magic of sharing the joys of life with those around you.” Those themes do come through, but with the developers’ commitment to making a minimalist game where imagery alone tells the story (there are no words or voice over), a lot has to be assumed. And that lessens the emotional power of this otherwise literally beautiful story about finding and strengthening cross-generation bonds.

Having released on 26 April, Tell Me Your Story is out now for PC (through Steam) and Nintendo Switch. And before you buy, you can download and try the demo.