Critical factors that influence the value of digital game-based learning (DGBL) for enhancing learning effectiveness remain debatable. Based on the self-determination theory (SDT), people can be autonomously motivated to adopt DGBL to enhance learning effectiveness if their basic psychological needs are satisfied. Additionally, studies that simultaneously examine the effects of two critical factors of information feedback and game quality on students' autonomous motivation and learning effectiveness in DGBL contexts are missing in the literature. This study integrates information feedback, game quality, and SDT to develop a research model for comprehending the effectiveness of DGBL systems. Data collected from 383 respondents was analyzed to validate our research model. The results showed that information feedback, game quality, and autonomous motivation significantly influenced students' learning effectiveness and their continuance intention to use DGBL systems. Additionally, autonomous motivation indirectly influenced continuance intention via learning effectiveness. Implications for theory and for practice are discussed accordingly.