There are definitely examples that go against the tropes--Elaine being the far more competent character out of her and Guybrush is a great example, in fact. But the thing is that she is an exception, and not the standard.
The problem is, as snabbott pointed out, that there are far MORE cases where the damsel is not more than that. She's just a two-dimensional set piece there to be an accessory to the male protagonist. Rarely given depth, personality, emotions, or anything of the sort. Let's take the Princess in the original Prince of Persia game for an example--there is nothing to her character. We're told they're in love that the evil male villain has taken her captive, and its up to male hero to save her. If you succeed, the only thing you ever see of her at the end is her running into the hero's arm. That's it.
That set up is a classic example: her entire world, situation, etc, is determined by the male characters around her. One has captured her, one liberates her. It's implied that whoever "wins" will be the one she marries, too.
Now, yes, this game doesn't have much characterization for any character in it, BUT the hero and the villain are at least given bare bones personalities via the story, and far more active roles in the story. The female is nothing. She may as well be a magic crown or sword and she'd have done exactly as much in the game as she does to begin with.
Again, there are exceptions--and hooray for those exceptions! But the "issue" is that they are the more rare occurrences and that they stand out for being such, instead of being an accepted norm the way the white male hero who saves the day is.