Reviewing the SNES version, the four reviewers of "Electronic Gaming Monthly" concurred it to be by far the best "16-bit version" of the game. They especially praised the challenging enemy AI, accurate graphics, and a high number of special options. While they listed some problems with the AI and sound, "GamePro" had a similar reaction, concluding that "Converting a mammoth arcade game like "MK 3" to the 16-bit Super NES is no easy task, and Williams has done a respectable job of keeping all the key elements intact." "PC Gamer" itself, despite the later negative opinion, gave the PC version of "MK3" a review score of 89% upon the release, calling it "yet another excellent arcade experience from the king of fighting games." "Next Generation" at the time called it "one of the best fighting games ever released for the PC" and "a title you must own" for the fans of the genre, awarding it four out of five stars. "GamePro" panned the Game Boy version in a brief review, venturing that "even portable power players will find the soft controls and eye-straining graphics unbearable."