"Tempest 2000" received general critical acclaim when released for the Jaguar. "GamePro" praised the graphics and high speed, said the music included "the best techno-rave tracks anywhere", and deemed the two-player competitive mode "well worth the price of the cart." "Electronic Gaming Monthly" gave it their "Game of the Month" award, citing the "superb" techno soundtrack and "graphics that surpass the arcade version". "GameFan" also gave the Jaguar version a positive review. In a 1995 overview of Atari's history, "Next Generation" said of "Tempest 2000" that "This single game probably did more for Atari's reputation than anything the company's marketing team had managed in the last five years." "Tempest 2000" sold more than 30,000 copies, making it the second best-selling game on the platform behind "Alien vs Predator", though it is unknown how many were sold in total during its lifetime as of 1 April 1995. "Tempest 2000" was also awarded Best Jaguar Game of 1994 by "Electronic Gaming Monthly". The Jaguar version has gained a cult following since its release.