To be fair GTAIV was the first big sandbox game to arrive this gen and so the only thing it compared to was last gen games. That's why it got like perfect scores for graphics even though it's FAR from the best looking game this gen.

It's difficult to choose a top 10 this gen but my take:

Disagree:

GTA IV: It was a step back for the series and actually rather boring.
Super Mario Galaxy 2: First one was amazing but I don't really see what the second brought to the table
Bioshock: Was a very good game and impressive early gen game but was really a toned down version of System Shock 2
Little Big Planet: Revolutionary in terms of user generated content on consoles, but not sure the game mechanics warrant top 10 of the gen.

Agree:

Uncharted 2: Improved on the first, had solid multiplayer and was a well-polished tps.
Super Mario Galaxy: Did some amazing stuff for a 3D platformer
Orange Box: Best value package of the gen. Half-Life 2 alone warrants this being on the list let alone Portal & Team Fortress 2
Mass Effect 2: A good mix of shooter and RPG elements with strong character based storylines.
Skyrim: I think I actually prefer Oblivion, but Skyrim did a fantastic job of fixing the faults Oblivion had in a good open world RPG.

I've still got to play Arkham City but I would add to the list Deus Ex Human revolution and Assassins Creed 2.

The whole metacritic thing is pretty much broken. many 'reviewers' which it sources are biased towards specific series/genres/platforms. hence why GTA (a terrible series) sits at the top of the list

Orange Box out, Portal 2 in.
GTA IV out, Demons Souls in.
Skyrim out, Deus Ex HR in.

Now there's a list I could agree with.

A fair list, but i would have borderlands at the top. i agree with little big planet, uncharted 2. bioshock and both super mario galxies being there. But seriously GTA IV is good but there are better sandbox games now. I'm a huge fan of grand theft auto games but i think slepping dogs is better than gta IV, there's so much more to do in sleeping dogs.
Plus Assassin's creed II should be in the top ten

The one game that I can think of that definitely deserves a spot in the top ten is Portal 2. That game is phenomenal. I would also nominate God of War III for consideration. As for the Orange Box...I've played Half-Life 2 for a few hours and I just don't understand the praise that it's gotten. I want to like it because I love Portal 2 and the first Half-Life is great, but so far the driving sections are blah and the story just isn't there. (The Orange Box did grace us with portal though, so maybe it does deserve its place.)

Overall a great batch of games.

I agree that those are the top 10 games on metacritic based on your parameters.

As for what's best. I really don't think video game criticism is at such a level where one could constitute a "Best 10" list."

A "top 10 favorites" list sure.

As it is however, there doesn't seem to be a very good standard for criticism like you see with movies, and art and the like.

Really I think you can only do a thumbs up or a thumbs down, then the rest is pure opinion.

Though even a thumbs up or thumbs down system seems very hard for most reviewers to do, unable to judge a game for how it is in it's genre a lot of the time, and instead judging it for not being a completely different style and kind of game.

To be fair videogame critics due have it relatively hard. They are trying to establish credibility and an a critical frame of reference when the reality is... other such references like art are actually degrading and becoming meaningless... relying less on critical theory and structure and more on simply evocation of reaction... making an art critic really no better qualified to judge art then a regular joe.

I think looking back, most reviewers regret giving GTA 4 such a high score - it must have felt like perfection at the time, but it really wasn't. Should still be in the top-10 though. Batman AC should be on the top 10 instead of Skyrim.

Well, none of them are bad games, so that's good at least.

But personally, the only ones there I'd agree deserve to be in the top 10 are Bioshock (of course), Uncharted 2, and the Galaxies, as I've played everything there except Batman. I might agree with The Orange Box making the list, seeing as how it's such a great package, but in that case I'd definitely add Metroid Prime Trilogy and put it second only to Bioshock.

I would have also liked to have seen Metal Gear Solid 4, Mario Kart DS and Picross DS make the list.

I have to disagree with LBP being on the list and GTA IV.
GTA IV had no memorable characters, a mediocre story and a minimal city and with bad aerial controls, but that's just me.

LBP, well to begin with I hate sackboy, the game is just another 2d plattformer and I can't see how people enjoy it, the plattforming is really boring and is not played in a fast pace (well, it may just be that I suck at that game)

I would only have either galaxy 1 or 2 at the list, I can understand why people like Galaxy 1 more, but I usually think, what if galaxy 2 was the first one you played and that's how I appreciated Galaxy 2 and started to love it.