Since its release, "Mario's Time Machine" has received mixed reviews. "GamePro" praised the game's dialogues with historical figures, commenting that "the scenarios make flesh-and-blood human beings out of people who are usually just static pictures in textbooks." They criticized that the Timulator controls are too confusing, especially for the game's targeted age group, but nonetheless summarized the game as both enjoyable and educational. "Nintendo Power" gave it a 2.65 out of five, while "Electronic Gaming Monthly" gave it a 6.75 out of 10.