 GameDaily listed the character as one of their "Top 25" scariest monsters in video gaming, placing it at number three on their list.Later articles named his role as the protector of the Little Sisters as one of the greatest duos in video games, and additionally ranked the Big Daddy as the best non-boss enemy in a video game, stating "He's one bad mother that we wouldn't want to run into in an underwater city, or anywhere, for that matter.