Upon release, the song received universal acclaim. Madeline Roth of
MTV News called the song an "emotional guitar ballad" that is "punctuated by scintillating harps and late-arriving synths". She warned readers that it is "sure to put you deep in your feelings" as it "tells the story of a failed relationship in which Sivan got 'the good side' of the breakup". Ross McNeilage of the same publication called it "a stunning song of heartbreak and healing", naming it "the most acoustic thing Troye has ever released" and "his most cinematic song to date". He also wrote that it is "a song of two extremes in every sense", due to the presence of guitars in "his dreamy electro-synth universe". Rachel George of
Billboard regarded the song as a "guitar-infused ballad with lovely late-arriving synths". Comparing to the lead single from the album, "
My My My!", Brittany Spanos of
Rolling Stone found the song offers a "much softer taste". He called it a "tender, acoustic song" in which "Sivan channels
Sufjan Stevens' sorrowful balladry". Hugh McIntyre of
Fuse sees Sivan taking a different direction in this song. He wrote: "The tune relies on acoustic guitar and perfectly-penned lyrics, as opposed to lush electro-pop production like on 'My, My, My' and previous hits like '
Wild' and '
Youth.'" Hilton Dresden of
Paper described the song as "soft, gentle, and comforting", in contrast to the "synth-heavy, jubilant verses" of "My My My!". Similarly, Chris Thomas of
Out felt that the song is "vastly different from the dance-heavy 'My My My'", writing that it is "the kind of song you'll play with your lover in the morning". Daniel Megarry of
Gay Times also found Sivan departing from "the euphoric, danceable sound of 'My, My, My!'" on the "deeply personal track". Megan Armstrong of
V wrote: "It seemed with 'My My My!' that Sivan couldn't stop the happiness from flooding out of him, which is good news for everybody, but 'The Good Side' offers a counterbalance and shows the growing pop star's range." ==Live performances==