When Slade Rocked the World received favorable ratings from nine different sources one of which is The Arts Desk.
Professional ratings The Arts Desk favourable favourable Classic Rock The Sunday Times favourable Upon release, Vive Le Rock described the set as the "ultimate box set", adding that it "deserves a place in every self-respecting rock 'n' roll and glam rock-loving home." Daily Mirror praised the compilation as a "sumptuous vinyl box set", describing it as "major[ing] in roof-raising pop glories" and being the "perfect Yuletide gift for the discerning rock 'n' roller". David Cavanagh of Uncut wrote: "As we hear time and again on When Slade Rocked the World, they weren't just churning out chart fodder to fill the nostalgic dancefloors of future school discos. The Sunday Times noted the set stood out for its "spectacular packaging, humour and reproduced curios". They were better musicians than that for a start; a tight, syncopated four-piece, they could swing viciously and attack with force." Daryl Easlea of Record Collector described the set as a "superbly packaged collection" and a "very fitting tribute". "Alexis Petridis of The Guardian commented: "Its deathlessness ["Merry Xmas Everybody"] has fixed Slade forever in the public imagination as beloved purveyors of glittery, raucous pop anthems. 
