Bastion

The final 10. The crème de la crème. Only the most imaginative, innovative, and inspired of video games were able to crack this barrier and even then it was like pulling teeth for the EGM crew as they attempted to figure out what would place where. So here is the beginning of that elite group with #’s 6-10.

#10: Portal 2

Publisher: Valve Developer: Valve Why It Made The List: With more complex, detailed puzzles inspired by the first game and a standalone co-op mode that adds a new wrinkle to the story, Portal 2 does what all sequels should: improve the franchise by making it bigger and better than its predecessor. Its attention to detail may be unparalleled, and when you add in the new characters, Portal 2 may be the most well-rounded game of the year. — Ray Carsillo

#9: RAGE

Publisher: Bethesda Developer: id Software Why It Made The List: Even though RAGE got mixed reviews, we enjoyed id’s latest shootout for its sheer audacity. It’s part traditional id shooter, part racing game, part open-world wackiness—and it’s got something for every gamer. Throw in a decent story with excellent voice work, and you’ve got an id game like none other. Sure, it may not have revolutionized shooters—as early promises indicated—but it provided hours of frantic fun and the start of what we’re hoping is a great new franchise. — Marc Camron

#8: Dead Island

Publisher: Deep Silver Developer: Techland Why It Made The List: As enjoyable as open-world endeavors seem to be to the gaming public, genuinely impressive entries are few and far between—and while Techland’s track record left us a bit skeptical prior to release, they managed to craft a zombie-fueled adventure that confirmed our belief that the genre’s long overdue for some fresh brains via the beautifully realized nightmare that is Dead Island. — Brandon Justice

#7: Bastion

Publisher: Warner Bros. Interactive Entertainment Developer: Supergiant Games Why It Made The List: With simple, pick-up-and-play controls and a well-paced story that sucked us in from the start, Bastion was a delight for gamers both old and new. A throwback to a simpler time of classic 16-bit action-RPGs, Bastion featured a novel art style, a stirring soundtrack, and dynamic narration—qualities that set it apart by leaps and bounds from any other downloadable competition. — Ray Carsillo

#6: L.A. Noire

Publisher: Rockstar Games Developer: Team Bondi Why It Made The List: It seems like we’re always exploring the same landscapes in games: postapocalyptic wastelands, fantastical fantasy worlds, or alien-infested space stations. Those locales would certainly be breathtaking if we ever stumbled upon them in real life, but in games, they’re so played out. L.A. Noire’s 1940s Los Angeles was detailed right down to the last fedora, which is why—in spite of certain design flaws—it was one of the most imaginative worlds we explored in gaming this year. — Andrew Fitch

A solid list of games, to be certain, but which titles managed to beat them out on the path to our Game of the Year? Only time will tell. Be sure to check back tomorrow for part five of our Top 25, featuring EGM’s picks for #5 – #1!

Now that #10- #6 are in the books, what do you guys think of the staff’s picks? Be among the first to comment and let us know below!

EGM’s Best of 2011 Coverage

EGM’s Top 25 Games of 2011
Part 1: #25 – #21
Part 2: #20 – #16
Part 3: #15 – #11
Part 4: #10 – #6
Part 5: #5 – #1

EGM Editor’s Choice Awards
Part 1: Eric L. Patterson
Part 2: Ray Carsillo
Part 3: Marc Camron
Part 4: Brandon Justice
Part 5: Matthew Bennett
Part 6: Andrew Fitch
Part 7: Brady Fiechter