"Under a Killing Moon" received universally positive reviews. Contemporary reviews praised the game for its technology and cinematic presentation. In 2002, Adventure Gamers gave it a score of 4.5 out of 5, calling it "a fantastically-plotted mystery with great characters and classic Tex Murphy humor." According to IGN in 2006, the game "has weathered the test of time as one of the best detective games to this day." IGN also called it "a landmark for adventure games" and "a rebirth for the series, using new technology to create a game that was both cinematic and playable."