In 1994, "PC Gamer UK" named "Chessmaster 4000 Turbo" the 20th best computer game of all time, calling it the best of the series so far and accessible to all skill levels. The editors wrote, "A chess game? In the Top 50? Well, why not?" In June 1994 "Chessmaster 4000" was a finalist for "Computer Gaming World"s Strategy Game of the Year award, losing to "Master of Orion" The editors wrote that "Software Toolworks still has the capacity and the will to improve their best-selling chess engine".