The　potential　contributions　of　this　critical　review　are　to　provide　a　detailed　complement　of　the　status,　barriers,　and　prospect　of　the　supercritical　carbon　dioxide　(S-CO2)　cycle　power　technology,　and　give　a　clue　to　promote　its　application.　The　state-of-the-art　and　existing　problems　of　the　S-CO2　power　technology　are　reviewed　from　the　perspective　of　system　analysis　and　component　design.　The　emphasis　is　put　on　the　application　in　next-generation　high-temperature　solar　thermal　power　plants,　next-generation　compact　nuclear　reactor　power　plants,　and　coalfired　power　plants　to　reveal　the　thermodynamic,　economic,　environmental,　and　flexible　feasibility.　The　construction　of　the　S-CO2　demonstration　power　station　developed　in　recent　years　is　also　summarized　to　provide　a　comprehensive　understanding　of　the　development　route.　Finally,　the　potential　of　the　S-CO2　cycle　to　establish　a　multi-generation　system　is　proposed　with　a　promising　peak-shaving　ability.　Meanwhile,　advice　is　stated　to　facilitate　the　further　growth　of　this　novel　power　conversion　technology.　This　study　is　expected　to　help　understand　the　recent　development　progress　in　S-CO2　power　technology.