Here are my current Top 10 games and what I like about them:
#1: Istanbul A modular pick up and deliver race game. Plays 5 well, has little down time between turns, and is different every time I play it. The Mocha and Baksheesh expansion really helps the game to shine.
#2: Caylus The granddaddy of worker placement games. Also plays 5 well (if no one has AP). Also a good deal of variety and who doesn't love moving that provost to screw with people?
#3: The Voyages of Marco Polo Dice placement and variable player powers. Plays quickly (everyone is always saying "there's only one more round?") and is also different every time (seems to be a theme).
#4: Goa I was told I would like Goa, and after finally getting a copy and playing it once, it made it onto my Top 10. Variety(!), auctions, plus so many ways of doing things to get points makes it very satisfying for me.
#5: Village What's not to like with a game that has plague cubes and workers dying and going to the cemetery?
#6: Power Grid One of the first games I played as a newb gamer. I was overwhelmed but after giving it a second chance, I fell in love with it! Yes, it is math-y, but that is part of the fun. And it plays 6.
#7: Lorenzo il Magnifico with the Houses of the Renaissance expansion. Variable player powers, auctions, multiple paths to victory (and defeat), excommunication, military (yet no confrontation), big chunky dice, worker placement; this game ticks so many boxes for me!
#8: Bootleggers Use muscle, get thugs and influence, send in the boys, make whisky, run whisky, steal trucks/whisky, kill others, make deals, sell whisky, avoid the copper. Fun!
#9: The Pillars of the Earth Get resources, convert resources. Plays 6 well, and that mechanism of pulling master builders out of the bag and then having to decide if you want to spend a lot to place them or wait. And it is based on a very good (long) book.
#10: Rajas of the Ganges Great looking game, with a pretty board, beautiful dice, and fun play. Spend dice, get things, place tiles, get things, and get your score pieces to cross first/farther than your opponents.
There are SO many great games out there. Maybe I should do a Top 20 list...