In a brief review of the game, IGN praised the game's accessibility and colorful art direction, while questioning the game's slow pace. Players often criticize the game for the need for constant "grinding", or repetitive tasks done to level up. At higher levels, it can take up to a month before a player can level once, depending on how often the user plays.

A Fox 11 Investigates report conducted by Fox 11, a Los Angeles news channel, warned parents that online games that were free to download may not be entirely free. MapleStory was used as the sole example provided in the investigation. Fox 11 claims that the game becomes expensive with repeated purchases of Nexon Cash. Fox 11 interviewed the parents of children who had become so obsessed with the purchase of the optional Cash Shop items that they had broken into their parent's PayPal or credit card accounts to purchase Nexon Cash.