While the tsundere archetype is popular in the world of JPRGs, there is another type of archetype that tends to be overlooked: the dandere. These characters, particularly female ones, are usually very shy and quiet, which is actually quite fitting. This is because the term dandere is a cross between the words "danmari" and "deredere," which mean silence and affectionate respectively.
While these ladies are rather introverted, that doesn't stop them from standing out in their own right. Some of these ladies even take a leadership role among those around them. They may not be loud, but these iconic ladies certainly don't shy away from the eyes of players.
8 Senia (Eternal Senia)
The main protagonist of Eternal Senia, the game exclusively centers around the titular Senia's quest to traverse the Tower of Eternity to find her older sister Magaleta. Having lost her mother at a young age, resulting in Magaleta taking her in, Senia initially starts out as a shy girl, frightened at the trials of the Tower of Eternity.
However, as the trials of the Tower of Eternity grow more challenging, Senia's abilities progress as well as her confidence as she defeats increasingly stronger foes. The proof of her growth eventually comes to a head when she finally finds Magaleta, who is revealed to have been possessed by Eternity.
7 Futaba Sakura (Persona 5)
The navigator of the Phantom Thieves, Futaba is characterized by her agoraphobic behavior and technological genius. Her behavior, in particular, which was enabled by her stepfather, is later revealed to be the result of unresolved trauma stemming from her mother's death.
Even after meeting the player and going outside for the first time in years, Futaba still remains extremely introverted. She would still rather play video games than go outside. However, she begins to open up to her friends, even teasing the other members of the Phantom Thieves like Yusuke.
6 Terra Branford (Final Fantasy 6)
When first introduced, Terra is an amnesiac girl who is terrified of the few memories she still retains. Having recently been freed from the Gestahlian Empire, she is especially scared of her innate magical abilities and is wary of the people around her, especially the Returners.
After reuniting with her father's Magicite and regaining her memories, however, Terra becomes a much more proactive member of the Returners. She serves as the bridge between humans and Espers during her time with the Returners before acting as a motherly figure towards the orphaned children of Mobliz in the World of Ruin. To many, Terra is considered to be one of the best female characters in the Final Fantasy series.
5 Elize Lutus (Tales of Xillia)
Due to the dark environment that she grew up in, Elize Lutus is a girl of few words. In fact, she mostly communicates through her doll, Teepo. Despite this, she is still able to provide assistance to Alvin and his party. Elize was initially only open towards the pacifistic Jude, even harboring romantic feelings towards him after he saved her from being discriminated against.
At the end of Tales of Xillia, as a testament to how much she has grown, Elize decides to lock Teepo away in an effort to become more self-reliant. In Tales of Xillia 2, a more sociable Elize decides to team up with Teepo once again.
4 Sakura (Fire Emblem Fates)
The candy-obsessed shrine maiden Sakura is a shy soul who has trouble holding a conversation. Even though she isn't the most eloquent talker in Fire Emblem Fates, she has a sense of bravery that she shows when things go awry, namely when her home is at imminent risk of invasion.
As the adoptive sister of the main lord Corrin, Sakura is deeply compassionate towards them and was stricken with immense guilt when Corrin was kidnapped. She retains this compassionate side of hers when it comes to her friends as well, tending to their wounds and defending them whenever necessary and without hesitation.
3 Murasaki (Senran Kagura series)
One of the elite members of Hebijō Academy, Murasaki is extremely reclusive, usually only seen with her stuffed bear Bebeby. She scoffs at the notion of making friends due to her pessimistic views of both friendship and life in general.
Much like Futaba, Murasaki's lifestyle is mainly centered within her room. She does not attend school and her hobbies include reading stories involving morbid themes such as death, abuse, and depression. However, despite her hobbies, Murasaki is surprisingly pacifistic, with her personality shifting only under the influence of the Root of Calamity.
2 Kamisato Ayaka (Genshin Impact)
As the daughter of the prestigious Kamisato clan, Ayaka was initially a naive and timid little girl who was blissfully unaware of the world around her. After her mother's passing, however, Ayaka realized that she needed to grow up and started presenting herself with a well-mannered nature.
Ayaka is compassionate and kind towards the people of Inazuma and is eager to help them in any way she can. In battle, she is an excellent hypercarry, as she is able to deal massive damage with her precise attacks. Being a Cryo character, many of her attacks are ice-based and thus have a Cryo effect on enemies.
1 Mipha (The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild)
Although Mipha is dead by the time Link awakens from his hundred-year sleep, this does not diminish her role in The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild in the slightest. After Link defeats Waterblight Ganon, who was responsible for her death, Mipha's spirit appears and thanks him for freeing her and the Divine Beast Vah Ruta before gifting him with the restorative Mipha's Grace ability.
One of Link's recovered memories reveals that he and Mipha were actually childhood friends. In life, Mipha was very reserved, harboring a deep love for Link that she was never able to admit. Despite her affection, she still managed to chastise Link for being reckless during their childhood.