[8] Vanessa Okoth-Obbo of Pitchfork described the track as relying heavily on a "Latin rock aesthetic", with lyrics that hear Rihanna and Tiller croon praise lovers who inspire wild thoughts.

Okoth-Obbo described the lyrics as straddling the line between "innuendos and carnal statements", whilst also noting the singers' vocal performances as being restrained and controlled.

Bruner praised the song calling it an "irresistible, Latin-inflected summer jam with some smooth verses courtesy of the addition of Bryson Tiller."

"[6] In a second and more in-depth review Burner stated: "Wild Thoughts" kicks off with a bang and that instantly-recognizable Santana guitar melody, before segueing into Rihanna's low, compelling vocals and Tiller's verses.

It feels like a spiritual successor to last year's hits "Work" and "One Dance" — but swapping those songs' dancehall vibes for Santana's guitar.

[15] Matt Miller of Esquire praised Rihanna's saying that she "completely commands the song, the power of her voice, her presence takes the entire thing over."

DJ Khaled, Rihanna and Bryson take that vibe and bring it to a new dimension with 'Wild Thoughts,' but the groove and essence of the song is still intact."

continuing to say, "I am honored that DJ Khaled, Rihanna and Bryson felt the intense intentionality of 'Maria Maria' and have shared this summer vibe with the world.

However they believed that "Wild Thoughts" had stripped the original of its meaning and "its association with West Side Story, where the musical's character Maria stood to represent both the grim reality of gang violence and poverty and the hope for a better life.

[21] After slipping to number four on the Hot 100, "Wild Thoughts" rebounded to peak in the runner-up slot and remained there for seven consecutive weeks, but was blocked off the top spot only by Luis Fonsi, Daddy Yankee and Justin Bieber's "Despacito".

During a breakdown of the video Skinner stated that Rihanna's first look saw her wearing a "psychedelic Balenciaga high-waisted floral-print leggings with matching 'Knife' boots, a bright-pink vintage Betsey Johnson crop top and a pair of oversize crescent-shape Lynn Ban earrings."

During the last few seconds of the video, Rihanna stands beside Khaled and Tiller, wearing a bright nylon off-the-shoulder top and cargo pants designed by Matthew Adams Dolan.

[27] Rihanna performed the song with Khaled and Tiller at the 60th Annual Grammy Awards, and solo at the halftime show of Super Bowl LVII.

On July 10, 2017, American rappers A Boogie wit da Hoodie and Fabolous released their remix of the song titled "Wild Thots".

In 2018, Turkey’s top media watchdog, the Radio and Television Supreme Council (RTÜK), reviewed the English-language lyrics of the song, and issued fines after concluding that they were inappropriate.