"No surprises hidden like currants in a fruit cake... No boat-rocking channel switches," said The Guardian's Chitra Ramaswamy.
Scott Bryan also sounded a cautiously optimistic note in the paper, writing: "Overall, a strong start.
"I just hope the format and its crushing need for standards doesn't suck all the fun out."
This series sees 13 amateurs (a bakers' dozen) compete to win.
The regular presenting team of comedians and broadcasters Sandi Toksvig and Noel Fielding, baker Paul Hollywood and writer Prue Leith have also returned.
Tuesday night's first episdode launched with an average audience of 5.7 million viewers, according to overnight figures, slightly down on the 6.1 million who watched the 2018 launch.
In his four-star review, James Jackson of The Times picked up on the show's youngest-ever line-up, which, he said, "some see as a ploy to grab youthful viewers deserting traditional TV, and potentially a race to the soggy bottom.