Christopher Livingston of ''[[PC Gamer]]'' praised the mod, saying that "it's very cool watching the past version of Chell appear and run through her recording".<ref name="pcg" /> He commended the functions of the tablet, comparing the time machine concept to the [[cooperative mode]], the ability of the player to see their own legs, and the tutorial puzzles.<ref name="pcg" /> However, Livingston noted that certain puzzles, in which the double cannot be directly seen, "can get a little weird", while he also complained about the lack of usage of the portal gun.<ref name="pcg" /> Phil Savage of ''PC Gamer'' praised the time machine concept and stated that the mod "dramatically expand[s] the complexity" of the ''Portal'' series.<ref name="pcg2" />
Alice O'Connor of ''[[Rock Paper Shotgun|]]''Rock Paper Shotgun'']] also rated the mod positively, especially complimenting the ability to view legs in-game.<ref name="rps" /> ''Rock Paper Shotgun'' also listed ''Thinking with Time Machine'' as one of the best mods for ''Portal 2''.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Pearson |first=Craig |date=December 20, 2021 |title=The best Portal 2 mods |url=https://www.rockpapershotgun.com/the-best-portal-2-mods |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221012214749/https://www.rockpapershotgun.com/the-best-portal-2-mods |archive-date=October 12, 2022 |access-date=August 1, 2024 |work=[[Rock Paper Shotgun]]}}</ref> Bo Moore of ''[[Wired (magazine)|''Wired]]'']] praised the design of puzzles but noted that some puzzles lacked "[[Valve Corporation|Valve]] polish".<ref name=":0" /> He, however, criticized the mod for its short length and for not featuring many puzzles where the portal gun is used.<ref name=":0" /> Nobuki Yasuda of ''Automaton'' noted that the mod lacks a clear plot.<ref name=":1" /> Moore and Livingston compared the time machine mechanic to the 2010 ''[[The Misadventures of P.B. Winterbottom|]]''The Misadventures of P.B. Winterbottom'']] game.<ref name=":0" /><ref name="pcg" /> [[Becky Chambers]] compared it to the ''[[Braid (video game)|''Braid]]'']] video game.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Chambers |first=Becky |author-link=Becky Chambers |date=April 27, 2014 |title=This Portal 2 Time Travel Mod Lets Chell Solve Puzzles With Her Past Self |url=https://www.themarysue.com/portal-2-time-travel-mod/ |access-date=August 4, 2024 |work=[[The Mary Sue]] |archive-date=May 16, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220516231623/https://www.themarysue.com/portal-2-time-travel-mod/ |url-status=live }}</ref>
