Multiple journalists praised the book's treatment of European game history, which had been neglected in previous works, and criticized its organizational structure. At the time of its release, Chris Baker of Wired wrote that Replay was the most thorough and comprehensive history of the subject. Colin Moriarty of IGNnoted the book's generalist position in relation to other game histories, as of 2014. He added that Donovan's thoroughness made for an interesting story about the industry's humble origins. Moriarty appreciated Donovan's approach to the European computer-centric and pre-console history as a departure from the litany of publications on early American companies and Japan's entry into the Americanmarket.