We’ve already covered our favorite allies and most memorable gaming friendships and family relationships.  So now let’s look at the other end of the moral spectrum.  Because you can’t really have a good adventure without some villains causing the main conflict.  These guys might be on Santa’s naughty list, but that doesn’t mean they can’t make the most of the holidays if they just set aside their plans of world domination and tried to embrace the Christmas spirit for once.  Oh, and spoilers for the original Ratchet & Clank ahead.

• Dr. Nefarious and Lawrence (Ratchet & Clank) – Perhaps the funniest villainous duo on this list, this pair of robots consists of the loud and rather insane supervillain Dr. Nefarious and his snarky and deadpan butler Lawrence.  Although Nefarious is clearly an awful person to work with, Lawrence has stuck loyally by his side (except for that one time in All 4 One), which has to count for something.  (I mean, when you’re talking about two criminals, you gotta take whatever positives you can get.)  And the two have certainly been through some hardships, whether it be Nefarious’ failed attempt to turn organics into robots or his…other failed attempt to change the past so that the villains always win.  And fortunately, in recent games, Nefarious has shown some signs of change, and perhaps one day he’ll merely be an antihero rather than an outright supervillain.  Until Nefarious finally turns over a new leaf, perhaps next time he freezes and picks up local radio broadcasts, Lawrence can enjoy the festive Christmas tunes being emitted from his boss’s massive cranium while he’s cleaning. 
• Gruntilda and Klungo (Banjo-Kazooie) – This green hag and her equally green minion already have half of the classic Christmas coloring all covered, though I wouldn’t partake in anything Grunty brews up in that talking cauldron of hers.  I don’t care what she says, it’s not eggnog!  If you were to ask Grunty what she wants for Christmas, depending on the game, she’d either want beauty or her mortal body back.  While I can’t exactly give her either, maybe these two will refrain from their usual mischief if I gifted Grunty some skincare products and if she could agree not to beat poor Klungo with her broomstick for a day.
• Gol and Maia (Jak and Daxter) – The holidays are great for spending time with family, so it works out that this pair are already brother and sister.  In fact, I’m pretty sure Gol and Maia Acheron are twins, so they must have already spent many family gatherings together even before they were corrupted by Dark Eco.  Gol used to be the Sage of Dark Eco before he and his sister were changed by the very substance they were studying and isolated themselves from the rest of the world.  As they say, no one should be alone for the holidays, so I suppose it’s good these two at least have each other.
• Chairman Drek and Captain Qwark (Ratchet & Clank) – Like Lucy in Charlie Brown, what Chairman Drek really wants for Christmas is real estate.  In the very first Ratchet & Clank, Chairman Drek had some pretty big plans.  After his homeworld was made uninhabitable by pollution, he wanted to create a new one by…breaking apart a bunch of different planets and reassembling all the best pieces.  In the end, it turned out this was all just a big real estate scam to get rich in the most destructive and convoluted way possible.  He was also joined by Captain Qwark, an ex-superhero who was ill-deserving of his past fame.  Both of these guys wanted one thing, and it was money.  Or cold hard bolts, as is the currency in the series.  Like Scrooge, a visit from a trio of ghosts is exactly what these two need to possibly change their greedy ways.
• Organization XIII (Kingdom Hearts) – Okay, I broke the rules with this one, as this week’s topic was technically villainous duos, and this group consists of, well, 13 people (or 14, if you count Xion from the DS game).  But even Nobodies (emotionless people lacking hearts) deserve some festive Christmas cheer.  Even if they can’t really feel much of anything…  But hey, perhaps their various powers can help to make the occasion just a bit more festive!  Demyx could play some Christmas music on his sitar, Axel could light a cozy fireplace, while on the opposite end of the temperature spectrum, Vexen could create a frosty ice skating rink for those who are more athletically inclined.  And do you think Marluxia’s plant powers could conjure up a Christmas tree?

Banner image is the official Banjo-Kazooie cover art