Beijing 2008

Platforms: Xbox 360, PS3, PC

Genre: Sports

Release Date: July 8

Bring home the gold in the official game based on the Beijing Summer Games. Organize your daily schedule and customize your national team as you compete in a wealth of events.

Why It's Hot: It's big, that's for sure. Where past Olympic video games featured perhaps a dozen or so events, Beijing 2008 offers a hefty 38, including less obvious choices like Judo and Kayaking. The ability to play online matches could actually make it feel a little more like the real thing. Plus, it's roughly $1200 cheaper than hopping a flight to China.

Why It's Not: Name the last truly great game based on the Summer Olympics. If you blurted out Track & Field, you get a medal (Epyx's Summer Games would have counted, too.) Unfortunately, those both came out just in time to celebrate the L.A. Olympics in 1984; in the twenty-five years since, it's been one Olympics video game disaster after another. That's not a good track record.