"pitchfork" editor jillian mapes gave a very favorable review for "never really over". she felt it was "a promising way forward" and wrote the song had "ticking clocks, piano chords recalling "baba o'riley", a drumline, a synth-y chorus worthy of a crj banger". mapes also hailed it as perry's best release since "walking on air" from 2013. jael goldfine of "paper" praised the influence of haim and carly rae jepsen on the main production of the track. he described the overall song as a "euphoric breakup anthem" and commended its "ousing, explosively catchy chorus" and "choppy, funky synths and self-harmonization".