Hot New Games

The annual E3 convention is the place to demo upcoming game software. Here are TIME's top picks

CIVILIZATION IV

Religion has a starring role in Sid Meier's latest (for PC), in which you try to convert your neighbors--or rip them to pieces in bloody, crusading wars

50 CENT: BULLETPROOF

You play a gun-toting rapper protecting the hood and rescuing your homies (for PlayStation 2 and Xbox). It makes Grand Theft Auto seem like Pong

NINTENDOGS

Game designer Shigeru Miyamoto, known for his cute characters, delivers the Holy Grail of cute: pick a puppy from the virtual pound and teach it endless tricks