This study assessed the effects of an educational intervention grounded in gamified game-based learning on attention, relevance, confidence, satisfaction, intrinsic and extrinsic motivation, as well as academic performance, utilizing the ARCS motivational design model. This study involved 384 undergraduates across three physical activity and sport sciences courses. The experimental group, consisting of 287 students, was further divided into competitive (n = 142) and noncompetitive (n = 145) subgroups, while the control group comprised 97 students. Data collection was conducted using the Motivated Strategies for Learning Questionnaire (MSLQ), Instructional Materials Motivation Survey (IMMS), and academic performance assessments. The findings of this study revealed significant disparities in the ARCS dimensions between the intervention and control groups. The experimental groups displayed notably lower scores in attention, relevance, confidence, and satisfaction. The intervention had a significant impact on students' perceptions of intrinsic goals and task value, and it exerted a moderate influence on extrinsic goals. No statistically significant impact on conceptual knowledge was observed. These findings suggest that integrating the gamified digital game-based learning (DGBL) approach with the ARCS model can effectively enhance students' motivation, academic performance, and practical knowledge in higher physical education.