"Next Generation" reviewed the Sega CD version of "Earthworm Jim: Special Edition", and stated that "While a prepackaged, presold character, who's as cynically calculated for hip success as Earthworm Jim does rub us the wrong way, we admit there was a cracking good game to back him up, and this new CD version is even better." "Entertainment Weekly" gave the game an A and wrote that the game is too similar to the Genesis and SNES versions to warrant a new purchase.