Gamearena criticized the depiction of the heroine and the game

However, Gamearena criticized the depiction of the heroine and the game's lack of mass-market appeal: "Many people found DMC too campy and over-the-top, and Bayonetta makes it look monochrome in comparison. If you don't like the genre, Bayonetta will not change your mind." GameSpot's video review lamented duller graphics and inconsistent frame rates for its PS3 port. The Associated Press review opined that "Bayonetta feels like a game that would have blown me away 15 years ago. (It even pays tribute to Sega arcade classics like Space Harrier and Hang-On.) While it introduces an exotic new vision Ao no Exorcist
, it doesn't give us anything to do except fight, and its strictly linear story prevents you from exploring its distinctive universe. It's high on style, but less than satisfying."

IGN UK announced that Bayonetta was their pick for the 2010 Game of the Year (GOTY). Cliff Bleszinski, former design director of Epic Games, has stated that he is a fan of the game's "crunchy" game design. Later on, when asked what game in history he would liked to have worked on, he said Bayonetta.

Daan Koopman at Nintendo World Report Cosplay NZ
, reviewing the Wii U version, rated the game an 8/10. Koopman stated "The original Bayonetta is still a glorious action game and time has not really changed that one bit." He also praised the addition of the Nintendo-themed costumes, for their humor and functions.

A sequel, Bayonetta 2, was announced in September 2012 as a Wii U exclusive title to be published by Nintendo. The game, released in Japan in September 2014 and released in North America and Europe in October 2014, features a port of the original Bayonetta Arakawa Under the Bridge
, which adds exclusive costumes based on Nintendo properties including Super Mario Bros, The Legend of Zelda, Star Fox and Metroid, as well as touch screen controls and dual audio tracks.