5 Beginner Tips You Need to Know in Probably Stolen

Probably Stolen is the newest fixation for any gamer looking to become a cyberpunk shopkeeper. On the day-to-day operations you'll be in charge of haggling with customers, managing your inventory, and keeping the rent paid. Despite the game seeming easy on paper, here are some tips you'll wish you knew sooner before clocking in for your next shift.

One important mechanic you'll quickly discover in the game is rent. Every 7 days, the landlord will conveniently swing by to request that you cough up the rent for running your store. This typically starts at around 200 Credits (assuming you're playing on Normal difficulty) and will steadily increase with every purchase.

In my early runs, I found it easy to barter with the idea that on day 6 I could splash all of my cash, hoping to make it back before rent is due. This is a bad idea, and something you should only really be doing as a last resort in your runs. Rent, or any other expense needing to be met before a deadline, should always be in your possession.

Leaving it until the last minute runs the risk that the buyer you're wishing on, simply won't arrive. This will inevitably result in your shop closing down, ending your run right on the spot.

The display case is one of the most important mechanics in the game, but as a new player can seem confusing. To keep it short, the goal of the case isn't to stuff it with your most expensive items each day. Rather, it's to display the items you're looking to sell, and also buy.

Keep your ears open to what your customers are saying, as often times hints will let you know what you should be advertising. Heard about a food shortage going around? Start advertising your cans of peat, and watch as customers line up in quick fashion. Similarly if you find yourself in need of a specific set of items, you can use the case to bring in sellers of said items.

When first starting out, I stuffed the case with every neon sign I could the moment I got them. This indirectly lead to my entire run being ruined, without me even noticing what the reason was. Don't make the same mistake, and learn how to use the case to your advantage early on.

A tip I wish I knew before starting in Probably Stolen is that despite it being obvious... You aren't timed.

I'm specifically referring to making deals with buyers/sellers. It can be very easy (and almost guaranteed) to feel overwhelmed when starting out. A great way to get over this hurdle early is to remember that when interacting with pretty much anyone, there's no rush. You can take as long as you want to think out the trade, and how it will affect you going forward.

This also applies to inventory management, counterfeit inspecting, and basically anything else in the game. Take your time and make the customers wait for you. The last thing you want to do is mistakenly buzz a customer away, or sell something you didn't mean to.

It won't take long until you're introduced to the bounties in Probably Stolen, a system designed to make hard choices seem easy. At first, it might seem like a no brainer to call security on every matching target you find. However, players who are listening to what the customers are saying might just realize the error of their ways.

Some customers are more useful kept around than others. This is where the game can become quite tricky, as turning in the wrong NPC may directly harm your run. In one of the runs I did, a character named John Smith was perhaps the biggest buyer I had. While I could have very easily turned him in on the spot, why would I? Sure there are bonuses to doing so, but I made way more credits in the long run just by keeping him around.

This of course won't always be the case though, so practice your own discretion when aiding law enforcement. Remember that the game is trying to get you to make intelligent choices, not easy ones. It's up to you to decide which ones matter the most. Find out what a customer brings to your business, and if it's worth keeping them around. If the business (and reputation) just isn't cutting it, then call security and have them whisked away.

When getting a new run off of the ground in Probably Stolen, it's most important to know that the core of this game is centered around supply and demand. This might seem obvious to someone who has sunk a decent chunk of hours into the game, but new players can easily overlook it. At any given time in the world, there will almost certainly be an opportunity to buy a specific item type at a low price, and sell it off to someone in dire need of it.

This sort of plays into the "one man's trash is another man's treasure" line - and it couldn't be more true here. From the jump, experienced players can (and should) plot out what they want to do in their run. Do you want to be a master of water? Or perhaps a weaponsmith? Regardless of the choice you go with, the easiest way to help you get there will be knowing how to bend the economy to your ideal shape.

This means keeping an eye out for easy slam dunk trades. Perhaps you buy 10 cans of peat at a super low price, and then hear from a customer about a food shortage. Now you know what to advertise in your display case, making for an easy boost in your profit turnover. The same will apply to medical supplies, household items, and pretty much anything else in the game.

Hopefully this guide helps you out when jumping in to your first (or next) run in Probably Stolen. If you want to check the game out for yourself, take a look at their Steam Page. Have fun out there, and try not to get caught off guard by any bad actors ;)