Giving the album three and a half stars at CCM Magazine, Caroline Lusk says, "Empires is a stunning display of universally relevant themes". Brian Mansfield, rating the album two and a half stars out of four for USA Today, states, "Empires focuses on submission and service." Rating the album four stars from New Release Tuesday, Marcus Hathcock describes feeling "awkward", after he finished listening to the album. Awarding the album five stars from FDRMX, Jessica Morris writes, "Hillsong UNITED have done an extraordinary job in putting together and delivering an album that is both authentic and of the highest quality."
