Before I get into this list, I have a few games that don't quite qualify.
1. VVVVVV- This game is hard as hell, but gives you just enough chance to beat every level with some practice. I wish I had gotten to it earlier, but better late than never.
2. Rayman Origins / Saints Row: The Third- I just picked up these games, and though they both seem great from what little I've played, I can't put them on the list with good conscience.
This is one of the new Sci-Fi and action standards for video games. Issac's adventure through the Titan Station was such a good one that I immediately played through the game twice and plan on going through again. Cutting up necromorphs is incredibly satisfying, and Dead Space 2 fixed all the problems I had with the first game. This is a sequel for the generation, and a game every mature gamer should experience.
I'm almost shocked at myself for putting Battlefield 3 so high on my top 10, but just thinking about multiplayer Rush mode reminds me why I did. The campaign is an abomination, but I know I'll be coming back to blow up MCOM stations and play as a medic for countless hours in 2012.
The fact that Portal 2 managed to be excellent in the shadow of its predecessor is a testament to the talent that Valve has assembled. The writing was top notch, puzzles were a blast, and the ending was satisfying.
I loved my time with Deus Ex: Human Revolution. The way that the game rewards you for exploration and nonlinear problem solving makes up for any weird glitches and poor voice actors that pop up.
Narrative doesn't get much better than this. Emotional to the end, Bastion is a prime example of how to make a game. Not just an indie game, but just a game. Like Dead Space 2, I played through this two times in quick succession because I wanted to enjoy the story again. Big props to the SuperGiant guys.
There isn't much to say about Gears 3 except that Epic has done what many studios simply won't: they made a franchise with an actual ending. This series has defined much of this generation, and I'm glad to see it got such a polished finish. Multiplayer is going to take up some time next year for sure.
Face technology and Film Noir. Nuff said.
I must be a sucker for motorcycle games, because I enjoyed Joe Danger as much as I did Trials HD. Joe Danger is punctuated by a responsiveness that matches Super Meat Boy, and a quirkiness that does the same. Also, the menu music is the most catchy jingle of the year.
Blood and gore don't get much better than in Mortal Kombat. The X-Ray moves are disgustingly brutal, and the fighting system is accessible yet deep for the competitive players.
This one almost didn't make it on the list, mainly because I hit a rough patch of 3 much-too-similar quests right in a row. But even that can't take away the incredible amount of detail and wonder that Bethesda has poured into this RPG. DOVAHKIIN!!!!
