ken denmead of "wired" listed it as one of his "top 10 d&d modules i found in storage this weekend". denmead wrote that the module, intended for levels 10–14, was published "before level-inflation had taken its toll on a weary nation. in year 2007 levels, that’s like 100!" he described a number of aspects of the abyss as psychedelic, calling the web's doors similar to the "loony corridor scene from sgt. pepper's lonely heart club band." according to denmead, "this is one big, bad module, and if you make it to the end, well, there's just one last monster to take care of. [...] you are, in effect, trying to take out a goddess. good luck with that." combined as a single adventure with the rest of gdq series, the module was voted the single greatest adventure of all time by "dungeon" magazine in 2004 (the 30th anniversary of the dungeons & dragons game).