Critics have addressed the game's similaries to other action-adventure titles and turn-based RPGs, as well as its blending of the two genres. Several compared the game's top-down adventure aesthetic and interface to "The Legend of Zelda". DeMaria recognized the two games' resemblance, but noted "The Magic of Scheherazade" as being much more linear. "Hardcore Gaming 101"s Michael Ayala contrasted the time travel aspect with "" and its turn-based battles with those of "Dragon Quest". However, he admitted both features felt unpolished in "The Magic of Scheherazade" but proclaimed the soundtrack as "excellent" aside from one "incredibly grating" theme heard in rare instances in battle. "Destructoid" contributor Colette Bennett praised the music and found the Middle East-inspired setting unique amid medieval-themed RPGs of its release period. Andrew Vestal of "GameSpot" comically described the game as a result of two development groups feuding over whether to create an action RPG or a turn-based RPG. He credited the game as being one of the first RPGs to introduce team attacks, in which two party members could join forces to perform extra-powerful magic. Video game journalist and "Retronauts" writer Jeremy Parish vaguely described the game in 2017 as "innovative and memorable," even declaring it to be Culture Brain's "crown jewel" when mentioning its conspicuous absence from Nintendo's Virtual Console service.