Probably Stolen Difficulty Modes, Endless Mode & Rock Bottom
Normal (Mark Up) is the baseline. Cozy (Price Gouge) adds a retail markup, gentler rent rises, a 500-Credit permit and +50% reputation gains. Hard (Thin Margins) and Challenge make upgrades, suppliers and reputation losses harsher. Rock Bottom is a separate start: 0 Credits, 200 rent and no equipment.
On this page
Difficulty comparison
| Setting | Cozy (Price Gouge) | Normal (Mark Up) | Hard (Thin Margins) | Challenge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Business Permit | 500 | 1,500 | 2,000 | 3,000 |
| Rent rise per increase | 2.5% | 5% | 10% | 10% |
| Starting rent grace | Yes | Yes | No | No |
| Network upgrade cost | ×1 | ×1 | ×1.5 | ×2 |
| Supplier markup | ×1 | ×1 | ×2 | ×3 |
| Reputation gains | ×1.5 | ×1 | ×0.75 | ×0.5 |
| Reputation losses | ×0.5 | ×1 | ×1.25 | ×2 |
| Appraiser Board join fee | 85 | 85 | 170 | 255 |
The store screenshot also lists a retail markup when selling (20% Cozy, 15% Normal, none on Hard), cheaper or dearer property and Wild’s favour gains. Hotfix 1.0.0.2 also changed some prices, so trust your own difficulty screen.
Which difficulty to pick
- 01
First run: Normal or Cozy
Perks are disabled on your first run anyway. Cozy forgives reputation mistakes while you learn appraisal.
- 02
Chasing achievements? Note the tiers
Owning the shop from a Rock Bottom start has a separate, harder achievement on Hard or Challenge.
- 03
Hard punishes buying in
Doubled supplier markup and 50% dearer upgrades favour scavenging, production and appraisal over wholesale.
Skip Intro and Endless Mode
| Toggle | What it does |
|---|---|
| Skip Intro | Skips the Mentor tutorial and most introductions (not the visual appraisal intro). Removes the protected early scavenging searches. Forced on for Fence, Gunsmith, Chemist and Rock Bottom. |
| Endless Mode | Removes the fixed Georgio, Lun, Eleanor and Serpico storylines and some minor stories. Bills and most failure endings still apply; Lou still visits. |
Rock Bottom start
- 01
List the next bills first
Know exactly what rent and services are due before buying anything.
- 02
Scavenge before you buy
With no cash, the Dumping Grounds are your first stock. A Flashlight cuts injury risk there.
- 03
Flip what sells today
Only buy goods you can resell immediately; keep the rent reserve untouched.
- 04
Learn the game elsewhere first
Rock Bottom is meant as an extreme start. Learn trading and night settlement on a normal run.
| Rock Bottom | |
|---|---|
| Starting cash | 0 Credits |
| Starting rent | 200 Credits |
| Equipment | None — only the lease. No magnifier, labeler, bandages, satchel or tapes. |
| Intro | Skip Intro forced on |
| Achievements | Own the shop from a Rock Bottom start; harder version on Hard or Challenge |
Common questions
What is the easiest difficulty in Probably Stolen?
Cozy (Price Gouge): a 500-Credit permit, slower rent increases, +50% reputation gains and halved reputation losses.
What is the Rock Bottom challenge?
A start with 0 Credits, 200 rent and no equipment. Owning the shop from it earns an achievement, with a harder version on Hard or Challenge.
What does Endless Mode remove?
The fixed storylines of Georgio, Officer Lun, Eleanor and Serpico. Rent, bills and Lou remain.
Sources & version notes
Community game-data research & official store screenshot. Sources reviewed October 31, 2026. This guide does not claim an independent in-game test.
- Nico Wiki: modes and endings
Difficulty multipliers, Skip Intro and Endless Mode effects.
- Nico Wiki: Rock Bottom occupation
Starting cash, rent, kit and planning advice.
- Nico Wiki: Business Permit
Permit price by difficulty.
- Steam store screenshot: difficulty screen
Shows retail markup and other labels; captured on an earlier build.