History EasilyForgiven / VideoGames

* In ''VideoGame/SleepingDogs'', if you date both Tiffany and "Not Ping", "Not Ping" will call you out for cheating on her...before cheerfully asking you to stay in touch.

* ''VideoGame/SuperRobotWarsOriginalGeneration'' (and indeed just about any installment in the series, licensed mecha or not) absolutely loves this trope. Major and minor villains alike often find their way into the protagonist's squadron, no matter how grievous the crimes they committed - up to and not including [[spoiler:nearly killing the main character, being a pain in the ass for the majority of the game, nearly enslaving earth, or even being accomplice to the destruction of the entire ''dimension'']]. Examples:
** [[VideoGame/SuperRobotWarsAlpha Ingram]], who was revealed to be [[BrainwashedAndCrazy Brainwashed and Scheming]] all along.
** [[VideoGame/SuperRobotWars2 Shu]], who attempted to do an EarthShatteringKaboom in a plan to free himself from an evil God. The aftermath after his death is Masaki, his own rival that utterly hates him... sheds a tear for him. This happens in EVERY INSTALLMENT where they duke it out, not just OG.

*** Cloud never has to apologize for his {{Jerkass}} behavior at the beginning. The only time he's ever held to account for it, it's by Tifa, when she loses her temper with him for trying to walk out on her, which causes Cloud to immediately back down. The first time Barret gets the indication that Cloud cares about other people (Cloud deciding to attack the Shinra Building to [[AlwaysSaveTheGirl save Aeris]]), Barret ends up apologizing for ''his'' behavior, even though he was only responding to Cloud's, and Cloud shoots the apology down ("Who cares if you're impressed?"). After that, the entire plot is dropped.

* [[Myth/KingArthur King Arthur's]] official policy in ''VideoGame/{{Guenevere}}'' is to forgive anyone who expresses remorse (regardless of how likely that remorse is to be genuine), as [[TheIdealist he believes this is the only path to a better world]]. Guen can go along with this up to sparing someone who has tried to murder her twice in rapid succession and is in the process of openly attacking her country.

** Speaking of Bowser, despite all of the trouble he causes, Mario and his friends never begrudge him and invite him to their many gatherings and parties. One minute he's threatening the universe, the next he's playing sports, and fairly no less.

%% This page has been alphabetized. Please add new examples in the correct order.

[[EasilyForgiven Easy forgiveness]] in video games.

* In ''VideoGame/YokusIslandExpress'', [[spoiler:After defeating The God Slayer[=/=]Kickback, you can find him near the top of the map. He will apologize for all he's done, and you have the option to forgive him. If you do, you regain the ability to use him as a ball-saving item again.]]

* ''VideoGame/Destiny2'': Discussed by the "Hidden Dossier" lore book included in the ''The Witch Queen'' expansion, using the framework of the PrisonersDilemma. In short, while retaliating against an attacker is the logical thing to do, if your attacker is also a logical being, this will lead inevitably to an eternal CycleOfRevenge that neither side benefits from. If both sides are matched, the only way you can break the cycle is to do something irrational and dangerous, which is to forgive them for everything. If your enemy just hits you again, you'll look like an idiot; but if they also decide to do the irrational thing and forgive you for everything, then the two of you will be able to pool resources that were previously wasted on conflict, and both of you will prosper. The example given is Namrask, an alien warlord whose species is engaged in such a cycle with humanity. Namrask infamously sacked London and killed countless humans, but later had a HeelRealization, renounced violence, and attempted to start a new life as a humble weaver. Should his HeelFaceTurn be taken for granted, or is he a RetiredMonster who's escaped punishment for his crimes?

* ''VideoGame/Destiny2'': Discussed by the "Hidden Dossier" lore book included in the ''The Witch Queen'' expansion, using the framework of the PrisonersDilemma. In short, while retaliating against an attacker is the logical thing to do, if your attacker is also a logical being, this will lead inevitably to an eternal CycleOfRevenge that neither side benefits from. If both sides are matched, the only way you can break the cycle is to do something irrational and dangerous, which is to forgive them for everything. If your enemy just hits you again, you'll look like an idiot; but if they also decide to do the irrational thing and forgive you for everything, then the two of you will be able to pool resources that were previously wasted on conflict, and both of you will prosper. The example given is Namrask, a warlord infamous for sacking London and killing countless humans, who later had a HeelRealization, renounced violence, and attempted to start a new life as a humble weaver. Should his HeelFaceTurn be taken for granted, or is he a RetiredMonster who's escaped punishment for his crimes?

* ''VideoGame/Destiny2'': Discussed by the "Hidden Dossier" lore book included in the ''The Witch Queen'' expansion, using the framework of the PrisonersDilemma. In short, while retaliating against an attacker is the logical thing to do, if your attacker is also a logical being, this will lead inevitably to an eternal CycleOfRevenge that neither side benefits from. If both sides are matched, the only way you can break the cycle is to do something irrational and dangerous, which is to forgive them for everything. If your enemy just hits you again, you'll look like an idiot; but if they also decide to do the irrational thing and forgive you for everything, then the two of you will be able to pool resources that were previously wasted on conflict, and both of you will prosper.

* ZigZagged in ''VideoGame/Persona5'' with ObviousJudas Akechi. Despite his attempts on [[PlayerCharacter Joker]]'s life and [[spoiler: his murder of Futaba's mother and Haru's father along with many others]], the Thieves express a desire to [[EnemyMine work together with him to take down]] [[BigBad Shido]]. In the ''Royal'' UpdatedRerelease [[spoiler: his rank 7 and 8 confidant events let you have Joker, who is fully aware of Akechi's involvement in the conspiracy at this point, obliquely comment on your awareness of his true personality and criminal actions, and even subtly offer him a chance at a HeelFaceTurn despite him currently plotting to murder you [[DramaticIrony but his overconfidence makes him oblivious to this]]. However, even after he becomes the EleventhHourRanger it's clear that the others haven't completely forgiven him, especially Haru and Futaba who openly resent the fact they have to work with him when talked to in Safe Rooms and won't play Tycoon with him in the Thieves' Den.]]

** In ''Videogame/StarWarsTheOldRepublic'', in the Sith Warrior storyline [[spoiler:the most you can do to Malavai Quinn for his betrayal is to Force-choke him before angrily inviting him back into your party]]. This is most likely due to the fact that [[spoiler:as the healer companion to a melee-heavy character, he's probably the most useful companion gameplay-wise]].

* ''VideoGame/MysteryOfTheDruids'': After Halligan extorts an oath from the BigBad that he and Melanie will not be harmed, Halligan stabs Melanie in the gut with a pair of hedge clippers. [[ViolationOfCommonSense Somehow]], this is treated as the BigBad breaking his oath, causing his proxy to involuntarily self destruct. Halligan heals Melanie with some enchanted mistletoe and it's treated like Halligan heroically saving her life. The two kiss, and romantic music plays over the credits.

--> '''Glottis:''' ''(angrily)'' That was a rotten trick, Manny!

--> '''Glottis:''' ''(calmly)'' Oh, okay.

* In ''VideoGame/CaveStory'', in addition to being attacked by him several times, Quote directly witnesses Balrog force-feed an innocent Mimiga a flower that mutates them in a horrible monster, forcing Quote to kill the Mutant Mimiga in self-defense. Later, when Balrog rescue Quote and Curly Brace in the Best Ending, Quote, ever the silent protagonist, never mentions this, or does anything to interfere with Curly's friendship with him, either not having actually cared about the Mimiga, or having forgiven Balrog for what he'd done while under the control of the Demon Crown.

* In ''Videogame/{{Psychonauts}}'', after [[spoiler:attempting to conquer the world with tanks powered by the brains of psychic children]], a public apology to the kids (albeit a sincere one) is enough for [[spoiler:Morceau Oleander]] to not only be forgiven but to also remain a Psychonaut. This gets lampshaded at the end of ''Videogame/Psychonauts2'', where [[spoiler:Oleander protests the decision to let Maligula/"Nona" Aquato off]], which earns him some glances from his compatriots that he tries to protest before simply being cowed into going along with them.

* In ''Videogame/{{Psychonauts}}'', after [[spoiler:attempting to conquer the world with tanks powered by the brains of psychic children]], a public apology to the kids (albeit a sincere one) is enough for [[spoiler:Morceau Oleander]] to not only be forgiven but to also remain a Psychonaut. This gets lampshaded at the end of ''Videogame/Psychonauts2'', where [[spoiler:Oleander protests the decision to let Maligula/"Nona" Aquatos off]], which earns him some glances from his compatriots that he tries to protest before simply being cowed into going along with them.

* In ''VideoGame/Fallout4'', if the player completes Bobbi No-Nose's questline, thus not only stealing from Hancock but also killing his friend/bodyguard Fahrenheit, Hancock will later force you to personally reimburse him as well as kill Bobbi. With a high enough speech, you can negotiate him down to a fraction of your original debt and you're free to let Bobbi go scot-free when you actually meet her. He's not even particularly bothered by Fahrenheit's death, stating that it's [[NothingPersonal just business]] and after all of that he'll willingly join you as a companion.

* In ''Videogame/{{Psychonauts}}'', after [[spoiler:attempting to conquer the world with tanks powered by the brains of psychic children]], a public apology to the kids (albeit a sincere one) is enough for [[spoiler:Morceau Oleander]] to not only be forgiven but to also remain a Psychonaut. This gets lampshaded at the end of ''Videogame/Psychonauts2'', where [[spoiler:Oleander protests the decision to let Maligula/"Nona" Aquatos off]], which earns him some eyerolls from his compatriots that he tries to protest before simply being cowed into going along with them.