[2] In a review for Billboard magazine, Eric Aiese said of "Dream On", "It's hard to remember the last time the group did anything so organic, and 'Dream On' proves to be surprisingly refreshing.

[4] The song is rated three out of five stars on AllMusic, with reviewer Ned Raggett comparing the composition to works by Timbaland and noting that Dave Gahan's lyrical delivery was "one of his best".

[5] Music & Media named it their "Pick of the Week" on their 7 April 2001 issue, with Ville Vilén of Radiomafia complimenting the "classic" songwriting with its "modern" sound.

[7] Sandra Boussu, head of music at FM Limburg in Belgium, gave the song a positive review but doubted that "Dream On" would become a hit in Europe, citing Depeche Mode's stylistic changes.

[8] British trade paper Music Week compared the song to Björk's album Homogenic (1997), noting its "nagging acoustics" and "slithery dark beats".