Topic: Who are your top 3 video game villains?

Not really asking about which ones you think are the most influential, but rather, which ones were the most memorable to you?

For me:
1) Kefka Palazzo (Final Fantasy VI): This guy is basically what the Joker would be if he weren't hampered by his rivalry and obsession with Batman. He's cowardly, cruel, and hilariously, unrepentantly evil. He also has a winning laugh. This character is simply another example of why Final Fantasy VI is the crown jewel of the Final Fantasy series.

2) Junko Enoshima/Monokuma (listing them both here as they're basically the same character) (Danganronpa series): The malevolent, omni-present, despair-obsessed presence that haunts the first two Danganronpa games and is constantly referenced in Another Episode. The most interesting aspect of this character is how he or she is obsessed with both inflicting and experiencing feelings of despair to the point where it could be described as a kind of especially dangerous paraphilia.

3) Dahlia Hawthorne (Ace Attorney: Trials and Tribulations): In a series that is known for its over-the-top cast, this villain takes the cake as one of the most manipulative, evil, and compelling characters in the entire series. The player becomes increasingly aware of the depth and extent of her evil throughout the game, and while she is not a bringer of the apocalypse, she manages to become as intimidating and malevolent a presence as one could imagine a person being.

1. King K Rool. I'll never forget jumping out of my skin when those credits popped back up in DKC as a kid.

2. Kain/Elder God/Moebius. Basically any of the villainous characters in the Soul Reaver franchise. I know that's kind of cheating but Kain wasn't always the big bad so I think it's worth noting. Simply because I've still yet to be as invested in a narrative as I was during the Soul Reaver games.

3. Fighting Red atop the mountain in Pokemans. That was awesome. (not really a villain - more of a boss-fight I suppose)

I choose Fawful for all the 3. The guy is pure charisma.

1. Sylvanas Windrunner — World of Warcraft — She's a villain in the sense that she will do anything to achieve her goals. Of course if I had happen to me what happened to her I am sure I would be bitter like her. Still because of her back story you can't seem to feel sorry for her.

2. Kefka --Final Fantasy VI (III) — No remorse no rhyme, no reason as Michael Caine said in The Dark Knight "some men just want to see the world burn." That pretty much sums up Kefka and is why I enjoy him so much.

3. Dr. Wily — Mega Man — Yeah I love his over the top Saturday Morning cartoon villainess. Plus how can you not like a guy with such awesome strength in his eyebrows?

I'm too lazy to explain but mine are Liquid Snake, Kefka, and a tie between Dahlia Hawthorne and Kristoph Gavin(I'd say Godot, but I never really considered him a villain)

That's actually a really difficult thing, as most villains I'd list are extremely spoileriffic, to the point even their name or description of what they did is a huge spoiler. But I'll try...

1.) Tohru Adachi/The Bizarre Murderer (PERSONA 4): The whole game deals with trying to find out who actually is behind the weird killings in Inaba, but still leaves extremely subtle hints for you, both to reward attentive players with a satisfying reveal and to prevent the game from just throwing a random suspect in your face. The buildup is very low at first, but close to the finale, all that sociopathic nonsense blurts right out and you realize you're not dealing with an all-encompassing supervillain, but a flat-out lunatic who doesn't even try to justify anything. It gives the whole finale a very personal flavour, with a recent victim of these incidents being the main driving factor for getting the responsible person and performing rather bitter revenge.

2.)Ghetsis (Pokémon Black/White): Another maniac who is just off-putting once the true intentions shine through. However, Ghetsis goes a different route, as his means of assuming control over the Pokémon of the entire world come through abusing his only child, N, as well as the Pokémon that were stolen by Team Plasma. Also, his Pokémon team consists entirely of Pokés that have a massive advantage over N's team, indicating that he was prepared to dispose of his son as soon as both legendaries were under control.
But he doesn't even stop there - contrary to how Pokémon games normally portray their main antagonists, Ghetsis actually attempts to straight-up kill your character in Black/White 2, with N coming to save you at the very last second. Someone as twisted as him is actually a very uncomfortable opponent to face in the otherwise rather cheerful world of Pokémon, but also gave the fight against Team Plasma a much better sense of urgency, since the threat he posed was much more direct than any other organization.

3.) King Valentine (Odin Sphere): Aaand yet another crazy antagonist... hm.
Still, Valentine writes an entirely different story. A very intricate story of paranoia, sin, regret, and not to forget, utter madness. While being completely irrational in his actions throughout the game, his reasoning comes off as terrifyingly understandable, even making me nod for a moment as he mourns over his own past. You can't help but feel a bit sad for this man, but still know he's way beyond saving, and that only his death can bring him peace, even if that's the exact opposite of what he aims for.

Notable mentions:

• Ganondorf: only his Wind Waker and Twilight Princess incarnations actually impressed me, but they definitely did. I don't like how Ganondorf is a very empty sterotype of his own, as there's an unbelievable amount of character development that he could go through.
• Aesir/Father Balder (Bayonetta 1 & 2): the most frustating antagonist I've ever experienced, mainly due to how powerless I felt when I realized how much he actually managed to ruin Bayonetta's life, only to bring even more misery upon her. However, the guy himself seriously lacks character, and is more of an annoyance than anything else on his own.

1) Andrew Ryan - Bioshock
2) Alexander - Amnesia: The Dark Descent
3) Arthas Menethil - Warcraft III

@Kaze_Memaryu: Pokemon villains have been getting a bit scarier lately. I was actually a bit shocked when I played Pokemon Y and found out that the villain was planning on committing an act of mass genocide. That bit was more Narutaru than Pokemon.

1) Wolf - Star Fox
2) Alma - F.E.A.R.
3) Cyberdemon - DOOM

@Geonjaha: I almost went with Arthas as well but I wanted to stick with one villain per franchise and Sylvanas just edged him out.

@Ralizah True, but it wasn't until Diamond/Pearl that the villains actually went that far to begin with (I thought Cyrus was a pretty bland guy who wanted to create his own world, though). But it's the complete disregard for anyone but himself, and his abusive nature, that really impressed me with Ghetsis. Lysandre was more of a whining prick to me, even though his results would've been much more dire in context.

Mad King Ashnard from FE: Path of Radiance. He is evil enough to count as three villians.

1. Bowser -Too many to chose from!
2. Ridley -Any game, but primarily from the Prime series.
3. Sander Cohen (Bioshock) - He's not even the main protagonist but he's a character that I always remember.

some that came to my mind. in no order:
G-Man (Half Life)
Liquid Snake (Metal Gear Solid)
Ocelot (Metal Gear Solid)
Rokkaku Gouji (Jet Set Radio Future)

Ganon/Ganondorf - The Legend of Zelda
Bowser - Super Mario Bros.
Zeon - Shining Force 2

Zant - Twilight Princess/Hyrule Warriors
Ghirahim - Skyward Sword/Hyrule Warriors
Wolf - Star Fox 64

Toon Ganondorf - Wind Waker
Ganondorf TP - Twilight princess
Ganondorf OoT - Ocarina of Time

Not in any order.

• Bowser (Super Mario series) - It's hard not to like him. He seemed totally intimidating as a kid playing SMW, and while he seems much more campy today, it's in that fun Saturday morning cartoon sort of way.
• Seymour (FFX) - A maniac who wanted to become SIN, because he thought death was the only way to truly free humanity or something. He repeatedly pops up and offers some of the stiffest boss fights in the game.
• GLADoS (Portal series) - Her witty and disturbing dialog makes her one of the most memorable villains of all time, IMO. Been playing lots of Portal Pinball lately, and her personality shines through perfectly.

I picked Arthas because he was always the biggest villain in my eyes, whereas other characters like Illidan and Sylvannas were more conflicted and somewhat heroic. I always liked them better anyway.

Krang

Mother Brain

Ganon