History ThePollyanna / VideoGames

* Imoen, from the ''Franchise/BaldursGate'' games, especially the second one. Though at times very much vulnerable to BreakTheCutie, a few minutes later she would be right back to her old cheerful self. "It's just like old times... well, except for the torture and all."

* Of all people, Excellen Browning from ''VideoGame/SuperRobotWarsCompact2'' and [[VideoGame/SuperRobotWarsOriginalGeneration OG series]]. You think that the resident [[TheTease teasing]] {{Manic Pixie|DreamGirl}} HardDrinkingPartyGirl CoolBigSis can't even be serious during the most downer of moments ([[spoiler:losing [[VideoGame/SuperRobotWarsAdvance Lamia Loveless]] was, in effect, a massive "PlayerPunch" to her]]). That's not the case for Excellen; in fact, it's her sunny disposition that's what really cheers her teammates up, no matter how bad the situation is.

* The ''Franchise/TrailsSeries'' has Estelle Bright. No matter how many hardships she faces, she never lost her cheerfulness and optimism.

And that's why, I believe in you!"''

-->-- '''[[VideoGame/{{MOTHER}} The main theme of the series.]]'''

and that's why, I believe in you!"''

-> ''"Cause I believe in miracles,\\

Say I'm crazy as a loon,\\
I believe in silver linings and that's why,\\
I believe in you!"''
-->-- '''[[VideoGame/EarthboundBeginnings The main theme of Earthbound (and the Mother series as a whole).]]'''

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->''"You can call me Pollyanna, Say I'm crazy as a loon, I believe in silver linings and that's why, I believe in you!"''

* ''VideoGame/DeadInVinland'': Cisse is so much this that his innate positive character trait is "Extreme Optimist." Despite a traumatic backstory in which he was the victim of [[DeadlyDecadentCourt nefarious intrigue]], ending with him being MadeASlave, [[TheExile exiled]] from his [[AncientAfrica homeland]], and freed only to end up shipwrecked on a DesertedIsland ruled by bandits, he sees the best in everyone and every situation. He's convinced that the PlayerParty is TheChosenMany, brought together by fate or the gods for some great purpose. He's also so idealistic, verging on StupidGood, that he attempts to convince the BigBad (a dude who literally collects human skulls) to leave the party alone by going on a hunger strike.

** Kairi tries to be this through most of her screentime in ''VideoGame/KingdomHeartsI'' game, but she sometimes lets her inner worries slip.

* ''VideoGame/SonicTheHedgehog'':

* ''VideoGame/{{Undertale}}'': In a KillEmAll playthrough, when you meet [[WakeUpCallBoss Papyrus]], [[spoiler:he'll approach you with friendship and mercy and try to redeem you in the hope that you can still be a good person if you only tried. Even when mortally wounded and about to die, with his last breath he will ''still'' encourage you to try and do the right thing.]] Popular consensus is that this is far more of a TearJerker than any amount of [[BreakTheCutie breaking him]], and many players report resetting the game at this point, [[spoiler:which is probably exactly the "right thing" he was talking about]].

* ''VideoGame/TheUrinalGame'': Even when you ''try to share his urinal'', the guy in the green shirt still smiles.

* The eponymous ''Franchise/SuperMarioBros'' are both optimistic, determined, happy-go-lucky, and friendly characters, though Luigi in particular can vary in this regard depending on the game. He's much more brash and self-assured in his ''VideoGame/PaperMario'' incarnation, and more timid and cowardly in both the ''VideoGame/LuigisMansion'' and ''VideoGame/MarioAndLuigi'' series. Mario, on the other hand, is generally more consistently positive and cheerful across franchises.

* ''Franchise/SuperMarioBros'': Mario and Luigi are both optimistic, determined, happy-go-lucky, and friendly characteres, they both usually The bright side of The things, albeit Luigi is more goofy, clumsy and cowardly, while Mario is more brave, confident and serious

* Of all people, Excellen Browning from ''VideoGame/SuperRobotWarsCompact2'' and [[VideoGame/SuperRobotWarsOriginalGeneration OG series]]. You think that the resident [[TheTease teasing]] {{Manic Pixie|DreamGirl}} HardDrinkingPartyGirl CoolBigSis can't even be serious during the most downer of moments ([[spoiler:losing [[VideoGame/SuperRobotWarsAdvance Lamia Loveless]] was, in effect, a massive "PlayerPunch" to her]])). That's not the case for Excellen; in fact, it's her sunny disposition that's what really cheers her teammates up, no matter how bad the situation is.

** Colette Brunel from ''VideoGame/TalesOfSymphonia'' is also like this. She smiles and constantly assures everyone that she's fine and nothing's wrong even though she knows she's going to have to [[spoiler:die to save the world, and stays positive even after learning that her sacrifice would have screwed over the world even more]].
*** [[spoiler:A lot of that optimism was a mask, though.]]
* There's reason to regard Link in the various ''Franchise/TheLegendOfZelda'' games as a male Pollyanna. In each game, he's more or less pushed out of his peaceful lifestyle and into massive amounts of fighting, with little to show for it at the end in the way of reward. He gets turned into different animals, stranded in foreign countries, never gets the girl (except when he does), and [[VideoGame/TheLegendOfZeldaBreathOfTheWild once]] even lost his life. He's basically a plaything of the Hyrulean gods. But he's still friendly, good-natured, and never turns down a request for help.

* ''VideoGame/CastlevaniaLordsOfShadow'': Claudia is an orphan, [[LastOfHisKind the last Agarthian alive]], a mere child despite being Really700YearsOld and a lonely, [[CuteMute mute young girl]] scraping her life along with [[ABoyAndHisX her Guardian Golem]]. Also, [[spoiler: she's [[DoomedByCanon fated to die at your hands]] to save humanity from evil]]. Despite this barrage of sadness she's cheery, lively, and literally prances towards her fate with a sunny disposition, well knowing her hardships were worth the prize.

* ''VideoGame/{{Pikmin}}'': Captain Olimar manages to see the majesty in a planet that is essentially a DeathWorld to his species. It helps that every time he goes there he is accompanied by adorable little carrot people and loots enough treasure to accumulate more wealth than some countries.
* ''VideoGame/CultistSimulator'': This is Clovette's defining trait. When you first meet her, she is "happy in a way that brooks no counter-argument to happiness", and as she progresses in the cult, she only gets happier. Even betrayed, imprisoned, and likely on the {{Villain Protagonist}}'s to-sacrifice list, she "is waiting for things to turn around". [[AffablyEvil She's still quite comfortable with her cult's ruthless work]], though her personal talents lean towards [[VillainWithGoodPublicity cleaning up your reputation after all the robbery, abduction, and murder]].
* ''VideoGame/EnsembleStars'' has a few: of the first years, the best example is Mitsuru, a single-minded KiddieKid who loves bread and running and rarely cares about anything beyond that - Tomoya notes once that he's surprisingly level-headed because he always looks on the bright side. Then there's Subaru, an upbeat GenkiBoy who only ever wants to have fun and was previously shunned by his class because his perpetually bright mood was off-putting while such terrible events were going on. Among the third years, this kind of personality is definitely a rarity, as the War which happened the year before thoroughly demolished the spirits of the vast majority - all except Chiaki, a pollyanna ''so strong'' that not only does he remain a PerpetualSmiler who can't take a hint despite everything that's happened (still considering Eichi a friend despite how he treated another close friend of his, Kanata), he manages to annoy even ''Subaru'', who finds him too intense and difficult to deal with.
* ''VideoGame/TheUrinalGame'': Even when you ''try to share his urinal'', the guy in the green shirt still smiles.
* ''VideoGame/DragonQuestV'': Bianca tries to stay positive no matter what, even after [[spoiler:remaining eight years turned into a statue]].
* ''VideoGame/DeadInVinland'': Cisse is so much this that his innate positive character trait is "Extreme Optimist." Despite a traumatic backstory in which he was the victim of [[DeadlyDecadentCourt nefarious intrigue]], ending with him being MadeASlave, [[TheExile exiled]] from his [[AncientAfrica homeland]], and freed only to end up shipwrecked on a DesertedIsland ruled by bandits, he sees the best in everyone and every situation. He's convinced that the PlayerParty is TheChosenMany, brought together by fate or the gods for some great purpose. He's also so idealistic, verging on StupidGood, that he attempts to convince the BigBad (a dude who literally collects human skulls) to leave the party alone by going on a hunger strike.

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* Claudia from ''VideoGame/CastlevaniaLordsOfShadow'': She's an orphan, [[LastOfHisKind the last Agarthian alive]], a mere child despite being Really700YearsOld and a lonely, [[CuteMute mute young girl]] scraping her life along with [[ABoyAndHisX her Guardian Golem]]. Also, [[spoiler: she's [[DoomedByCanon fated to die at your hands]] to save humanity from evil]]. Despite this barrage of sadness she's cheery, lively, and literally prances towards her fate with a sunny disposition, well knowing her hardships were worth the prize.
* Played to tragic effect in ''VideoGame/{{Undertale}}''. On a KillEmAll playthrough, when you meet [[WakeUpCallBoss Papyrus]], [[spoiler:he'll approach you with friendship and mercy and try to redeem you in the hope that you can still be a good person if you only tried. Even when mortally wounded and about to die, with his last breath he will ''still'' encourage you to try and do the right thing.]] Popular consensus is that this is far more of a TearJerker than any amount of [[BreakTheCutie breaking him]], and many players report resetting the game at this point, [[spoiler:which is probably exactly the "right thing" he was talking about.]]
* Captain Olimar in ''VideoGame/{{Pikmin}}'' manages to see the majesty in a planet that is essentially a DeathWorld to his species. It helps that every time he goes there he is accompanied by adorable little carrot people and loots enough treasure to accumulate more wealth than some countries.
* In ''VideoGame/CultistSimulator'', this is Clovette's defining trait. When you first meet her, she is "happy in a way that brooks no counter-argument to happiness", and as she progresses in the cult, she only gets happier. Even betrayed, imprisoned, and likely on the {{Villain Protagonist}}'s to-sacrifice list, she "is waiting for things to turn around". [[AffablyEvil She's still quite comfortable with her cult's ruthless work]], though her personal talents lean towards [[VillainWithGoodPublicity cleaning up your reputation after all the robbery, abduction, and murder]].

* Cisse from ''VideoGame/DeadInVinland'' is so much this that his innate positive character trait is "Extreme Optimist." Despite a traumatic backstory in which he was the victim of [[DeadlyDecadentCourt nefarious intrigue]], ending with him being MadeASlave, [[TheExile exiled]] from his [[AncientAfrica homeland]], and freed only to end up shipwrecked on a DesertedIsland ruled by bandits, he sees the best in everyone and every situation. He's convinced that the PlayerParty is TheChosenMany, brought together by fate or the gods for some great purpose. He's also so idealistic, verging on StupidGood, that he attempts to convince the BigBad (a dude who literally collects human skulls) to leave the party alone by going on a hunger strike.

* Lohse in ''VideoGame/DivinityOriginalSinII'' is by far the most cheerful and optimistic member of the cast, in spite of the [[DemonicPossession demon living in her head]] she can often be found giggling at her own jokes or playfully teasing the other party members.

* In ''VideoGame/Persona3'' and ''VideoGame/Persona4'', this is how the supporting characters see the main characters. In the latter, one character wonders out loud just how the protagonist can stay so calm in situations that push the rest of the team to intense distress... then remarks that it's the reason the protagonist is their leader in the first place.

** Oh, and yeah, they are also [[{{Keet}} Keets]] and [[TheDitz Ditzes]], I mean, you won't expect someone to say "We march to victory" when facing an entire batallion of far better enemy soldiers or "They have television in there?" when garrisoning a building in the middle of a warzone.

** Her underling Artina in VideoGame/{{Disgaea 4| A Promise Unforgotten}} was like this as a human. Deconstructed as she was like this in a CrapSackWorld and was killed for her selfless actions.

* Moira Brown in ''VideoGame/{{Fallout 3}}'' is a perfect example of this. Even if you set off the nuclear bomb in her town, causing the radiation to turn her into a Ghoul, she will still retain her cheerful personality, realizing that her being a Ghoul means that she now has a willing test subject for the research that she had been wanting to do on Ghouls. Of course, it ''is'' possible to destroy her optimistic outlook by convincing her that her idea for a "wasteland survival guide" is misguided. (This will earn you the "Dream Crusher" perk, and make Moira better at fixing your weapons and armor, as she now focuses all her energy on running her shop.)

** Speaking of ''VideoGame/{{Fallout 3}}'', Brailee Ewers in Arefu is what happens when this trope [[JustForFun/XMeetsY meets]] CloudCuckooLander.

* In ''VideoGame/{{Persona 3}}'' and ''VideoGame/{{Persona 4}}'', this is how the supporting characters see the main characters. In the latter, one character wonders out loud just how the protagonist can stay so calm in situations that push the rest of the team to intense distress... then remarks that it's the reason the protagonist is their leader in the first place.

* Yuyuko Saigyouji from ''VideoGame/{{Touhou}}''. She lost her parents when she was young, then later found out that she has the power to invoke death on anyone, [[DrivenToSuicide terrifying her enough to kill herself in retaliation]], reincarnated as a Ghost and eventually hatching a plan to resurrect a body that was sealing an evil tree... only to find out that the seal was her very own body, and thus had to spend her life as a ghost forever. Her reaction? Be a CloudCuckooLander, act like TheDitz, [[ObfuscatingStupidity obfuscate gluttony]], and all around be a cheery ghost that enjoys her existence while hiding her intellect.

* ''Super Mario Bros'' Mario and Luigi are both optimistic, determined, happy-go-lucky, and friendly characteres, they both usually The bright side of The things, albeit Luigi is more goofy, clumsy and cowardly, while Mario is more brave, confident and serious

* Laguna Loire of ''VideoGame/FinalFantasyVIII'' could be called this. He finally hits it off with his longtime crush and the very next day he's forced to jump off a cliff in order to escape a group of enemy soldiers. He's later seen in a quaint village and finds out that said crush thinks him dead, and has moved on and gotten married. Then he falls in love again and gets married, only to have his adoptive daughter get kidnapped, forcing him to search for her and leave his pregnant wife behind. He finally finds his daughter and has to send her, alone, back to his wife. Unfortunately, his wife dies in childbirth and since no one can find Laguna (who didn't even know she was pregnant), both of his children are sent to live in an orphanage and he doesn't see either of them again until they're adults. Despite this, he's as cheerful as ever years later and rambles about needing love and friendship to complete one's mission when he isn't being totally psyched about being on a spaceship.

* ''[[Super Mario Bros]]'' Mario and Luigi are both optimistic, determined, happy-go-lucky, and friendly characteres, they both usually The bright side of The things, albeit Luigi is more goofy, clusmy and cowardly, while Mario is more brave, confident and serious

* Laguna Loire of ''VideoGame/FinalFantasyVIII'' could be called this. He finally hits it off with his longtime crush and the very next day he's forced to jump off a cliff in order to escape a group of enemy soldiers. He's later seen in a quaint village and finds out that said crush thinks him dead, and has moved on and gotten married. Then he falls in love again and gets married, only to have his adoptive daughter get kidnapped, forcing him to search for her and leave his pregnant wife behind. He finally finds his daughter and has to send her, alone, back to his wife. Unfortunately, his wife dies in childbirth and since no one can find Laguna (who didn't even know she was pregnant), both of his children are sent to live in an orphanage and he doesn't see either of them again until they're adults. Despite this, he's as cheerful as ever years later, and rambles about needing love and friendship to complete one's mission when he isn't being totally psyched about being on a spaceship.

* Tidus from ''VideoGame/FinalFantasyX'' is perhaps the best-known male example. Despite everything he's gone through with an abusive father, then loosing everything he has ever known, he remains positive and upbeat. A refreshing change from the [[{{wangst}} usual]] ''Franchise/FinalFantasy'' hero (although he does have his moments every now and then).

** Kelly Chamber remains upbeat and friendly even despite the likelyhood of [[BreakTheCutie post traumatic stress]] [[spoiler:following her [[BodyHorror life changing experience]] in the collector base]] but [[spoiler: reveals that she's actually become a StepfordSmiler. In the third game, she refuses to return to the Normandy if you ask her because of the nightmares she still has.]]

** Before them was the protagonist of ''VideoGame/Persona2: Eternal Punishment'', Maya Amano, who is an ''extreme'' Pollyanna. She has a toy rabbit named Mr Bunbun which she brings out whenever she gets sad in order to force herself to be happy, and she's constantly encouraging other characters to be positive, not give up, and face their fears. She's best described as being the TeamMom for the entirity of Sumaru City.

* Yuyuko Saigyouji from ''VideoGame/{{Touhou}}''. She lost her parents when she was young, then later found out that she has the power to invoke death on anyone, [[DrivenToSuicide terrifying her enough to kill herself in retaliation]], reincarnated as a Ghost and eventually hatching a plan to resurrect a body that was sealing an evil tree... only to find out that the seal was her very own body, and thus had to spend her life as a ghost forever. Her reaction? Be a CloudCuckooLander, act like TheDitz, [[ObfuscatingStupidity obfuscate gluttony]] and all around be a cheery ghost that enjoys her existence while hiding her intellect.
* Claudia from ''VideoGame/CastlevaniaLordsOfShadow'': She's an orphan, [[LastOfHisKind the last Agarthian alive]], a mere child despite being Really700YearsOld and a lonely, [[CuteMute mute young girl]] scraping her life along with [[ABoyAndHisX her Guardian Golem]]. Also, [[spoiler: she's [[DoomedByCanon fated to die at your hands]] to save humanity from evil]]. Despite this barrage of sadness she's cheery, lively and literally prances towards her fate with a sunny disposition, well knowing her hardships were worth the prize.