In the 'Anatomy of Videogames' series of articles, we’ve seen how a videogame works on a skeletal level—from it’s interconnected design elements that form the ‘mechanics’ of a game and the underlying design philosophies that’s responsible for it’s thematic significance. So we’ve come to a point of understanding as to how the entire videogame experience is ‘built’, from the inside-out. And this article is about what makes a videogame truly great in the first place, what is it that lies in the DNA of games such as Half Life 2, Dragon Age Origins, Batman: Arkham City, Mass Effect 2, Bioshock that makes these games stand in the highest echelons of the videogame experience. What is the secret element that’s responsible for them being so endearing, rich and finally, what makes us still replay these games and want to get lost in their worlds. This article will explore the fundamental reason for the success of ANY videogame, why is it that a game sticks with us for ye