10. LA Noire
The makers of Grand Theft Auto still want us to drive, but this ode to the LA Confidential era is all about crime scene investigation and interrogation. New motion-capture makes the actors' facial ticks and grimaces register. As Cole Phelps (Mad Men's Anton Staton) you'll need to read the reactions of dames and dudes to tell whether they're lying or telling the truth. HINT: They. Are. Lying.
9. Infinity Blade 2
For iPhone or iPad, but it looks like something you'd play on Playstation 3. A highly detailed fantasy brawler where you slash and dash through mega-sized duels and, hopefully, don't miss your stop on your daily commute.
8. Outland
Sort of a Metroid-meets -Mother Nature with insanely hard boss battles, Outland feels like it was shot in a rainforest with endless vines, hidden caves and a strange, vivid color scheme. Very addictive but not for noobs, and downloadable on consoles.
7. Rayman: Origins
The year's best all-ages game stars a creature with no limbs. It sticks to the basics that made Mario a great platformer: fantastic level design and super jumps that never get old. And it looks like a Hanna-Barbara cartoon! Easy for anyone to pick up and play so parents won't get schooled by their kids...much.
6. Bulletstorm
Sure, Gears of War 3 came out this year, but we preferred this smaller, funnier actioneer. At first glance, it looks like yet another end-of-the-world shooter, but the first time you kick butt by actually 6. Bulletstorm the butts of baddies, you'll see this is something entirely different.
5. Super Mario Land 3D
Nintendo's fledgling portable handheld, the 3DS, needed a killer app stat! Mario to the rescue! The 3-D is crisp, the colors gorgeous and we love the plumber's new Tanooki suit!
4. Skyrim
There be dragons! This new Elder Scrolls adventure takes place in a winter wonderland inhabited by elves, mages and the rest of those nerdy things. And it's the sort of game there 80 hours in feels like just the tip of the misty mountaintop. The year's most epic game.
3. Uncharted 3: Drake’s Deception
Nathan Drake compares nicely to Indiana Jones, as a hero we can root for...with banter that's actually funny. The third outing keeps the thrills alive with set pieces that are more spectacular than ever like escaping a cruise ship vertically as it sinks.
2. Portal 2
The cake is still a lie. The follow-up to one of the most clever puzzle games of all time has the hilarious super computer genius GLaDOS joined by J.K. Simmons and Stephen Merchant. If you're not laughing, you might be lifeless a companion cube.
1. Batman: Arkham City
Our fave game of the year took us back to Gotham, where the sequel to megahit Arkham Asylum gave us the keys to the city in an expansive open world. Being the Dark Knight (and Catwoman!) means brawls, gadgets, more than 400 Riddler puzzles, and the most badass super villains in DC history. Including The Joker, voiced by the always-awesome Mark Hamill.