Portal

While The Orange Box is a heck of a package, it's really Portal that wins this award. It may seem strange that we'd give this award to a character that exists only as a female voice, but what a voice it is. Genetic Lifeform and Disc Operating System might sound like a dry name, but it belongs to one of the most inspired new characters in years. GLaDOS has many roles in The Orange Box's Portal. She's your guide, your friend, your captor, and your would-be executioner, and above all, she's the one promising you that ever-elusive slice of cake. Put another way, she's like a cross between HAL from 2001...and your crazy ex-girlfriend.

GLaDOS was our immediate and unanimous selection for this award because she's just so darn unforgettable. Everyone who has played Portal can instantly remember a brilliant GLaDOS line or moment. The final battle with her is a fantastic experience as she switches between all of her natures, from innocent, to threatening, to insane. And just when you think you've killed her, she returns in one of the greatest songs played over the ending credits of a game ever sung. That's why when Valve says that a Portal character will show up in Half-Life 2: Episode Three, we sincerely hope that it's GLaDOS, this year's best new character.