Most people look at their games in terms of graphics, gameplay, sound/music and replayability. While that isn't a bad way to look at it, it can be simplified to make it more accurate for the game maker trying to judge how good his/her game is.

I've found that the best way to judge a game is by weighing the Fun, Polish and Charm levels.

What are these, you ask? I'll tell you...

FUN ---

Obviously the most important factor, ultimately how fun the game is to play is all that matters. However this does differ from gameplay. Good graphics, sound and music can make a game more fun, but the biggest parts of fun are features and control. ALWAYS look at the fun factor of your game before releasing it.

POLISH ---

A skilled jeweler can take a rough stone and carve and polish it into a sparkling gem! The same can be done with a unrefined, somewhat lifeless game. Add some more features, an attractive interface or tweak the gameplay and you may have a winner here. A good model of polish in a game is Eternal Daughter.

CHARM ---

This is the most difficult factor to improve, mostly because it's hard to see. A game with alot of charm is fun and enjoyable even when it's not that complex of a game without many features. Charm can make a good game great, and lack of it can make a good game bad. To have a charming game is different for everyone, some people achieve it by making something really original, others make a game that brings a tear of nostalgia to the player's eye. Whichever way you choose, charm is important to a game's overall quality.

Well I hope this helps you create your games better, please let me know what you think of this article and/or how it helped you out.