Devs should not be "forced to run on a treadmill until their mental or physical health breaks", says publisher

Manor Lords' Early Access has been criticized for its slow development pace, lack of major content expansions, and a steep learning curve. Some players have also pointed out the need for better tutorials and tooltips to guide newcomers through the complex gameplay.

Manor Lords sold 250,000 copies in the first month after its Early Access launch on April 26, 2024. The medieval city-builder gained rapid success, surpassing one million copies sold within 24 hours of its release and achieving a peak concurrent player count of 173,178 on Steam.