[3] Salt Lake Tribune staff writer Terry Orme said that "the message of 'Head Games'...is identical to 'Cold as Ice' – a banal, sleazy claim of unrequited love.

"[5] Cash Box called it a "rock anthem [that] builds at a steady pace" and said that "Lou Gramm's vocal is at its aggressive peak.

"[6] Record World said that "Gramm's snarling vocals & a relentless rhythm equal a tense, driving AOR-pop pick.

"[10] Ultimate Classic Rock critic Matt Wardlaw rated it as Foreigner's 8th greatest song, saying that "a soaring opening riff from Jones leads into urgent lyrical communication from Gramm, who struggles to figure out and face the true mental reality of his fractious relationship.

"[11] "Head Games" reached number 14 on the charts of both the U.S.[12][13] and Canada[14] The song was featured in the first episode of web television series Cobra Kai, when protagonist Johnny Lawrence drives whilst drunk and reminisces about his teenage years.