Monster Rancher was a critical and commercial success, garnering praise for its unique and addictive gameplay.

A port of the game was released in Japan for Android and iOS on November 28, 2019, and for Nintendo Switch on December 19, 2019.

The Windows, Switch, and Android/iOS versions retain the basic gameplay and content of the original, but do not support CD playback; the monsters-from-CD feature is emulated by allowing players to look up CDs from a custom database.

[9] The common types are Dinos, Golems, Suezos, Hares, Tigers, Galis, Monols, Worms, Nagas, Jells, Pixies, and Plants.

"[17] Next Generation called it "an addictive yet time-consuming title that deserves to attract a whole new and greatful [sic] audience to the narrow niche of life sim gaming.

[12][17][18] Ken "Sushi-X" Williams of Electronic Gaming Monthly, for instance, stated, "Not only did every CD I tried produce a unique monster, each one had different strengths and weaknesses, thus a completely different challenge each time.

While expressing respect for its uniqueness, the reviewer felt that the game's emphasis on thought and decision-making rather than fast button pressing make it unappealing, commenting that "the simple menu-driven gameplay, which offers just a few button presses, definitely won't jack your adrenaline.

"[21][c] Jeff Gerstmann, reviewing the game for GameSpot, agreed that Monster Rancher would not appeal to those who crave action, but said the gameplay is hugely engrossing and addictive for the more patient gamer.