"Rocket Jockey" received generally positive reviews. Critics applauded the inventive gameplay concept, the unique ways in which players could humiliate their opponents, and the music, which Trent Ward called "the best soundtrack to ever bless a video game" in "GameSpot". The graphics were generally regarded as not particularly impressive but solid and passable. Critics also found that despite the complex gameplay possible, the controls are simple and reasonable. A reviewer for "Next Generation" commented that "Rocket Science's "Rocket Jockey" manages, in one fell swoop, to nearly erase the memory of such Sega CD dog-eggs as ', ', and "" with its surprising mix of style, humor, and fun." Robert Coffey of "Computer Gaming World" concluded, "There's little not to like about "Rocket Jockey". It looks good, it sounds "great", and it's certainly the most enjoyable way to sustain a concussion." in original Todd Vaughn of "PC Gamer US" wrote that "It blends a devil-may-care attitude with the crowd-pleasing violence of gladiatorial combat and the man-and-machine symbiosis of a demolition derby to create an instantly attractive and demanding would-be sport."