Kingdom Come Deliverance 2 has cemented its position as one of the finest role-playing games of 2025, and arguably one of the most impressive medieval simulations ever created. Developed by Warhorse Studios, this ambitious sequel puts players back into the worn leather boots of Henry of Skalitz, navigating the politically turbulent landscape of 15th-century Bohemia. The game has recently surged back into the spotlight following its inclusion in the PlayStation Plus subscription service starting August 18, 2026, introducing a whole new wave of players to its unforgiving yet rewarding world. For newcomers just beginning their journey through this historically authentic recreation of medieval Central Europe, one of the most pressing challenges is accumulating enough groschen—the period-appropriate currency—to survive and thrive in a world where poverty can mean death.
Starting From Nothing: The Early Game Struggle
After completing Kingdom Come Deliverance 2’s prologue, which serves as an extended tutorial teaching players the intricacies of its realistic combat system and survival mechanics, players find themselves controlling a severely wounded Henry who has been stripped of his possessions and left without any financial resources. The opening hours of the main adventure prove particularly challenging, as the protagonist knows no one in the immediate area and lacks the equipment necessary to defend himself against the bandits who lurk along every road and forest path. This brutal beginning is intentional, reflecting the developers’ commitment to historical authenticity—in medieval times, a penniless traveler was incredibly vulnerable, and the game makes players feel that vulnerability acutely. Understanding how to quickly accumulate wealth becomes essential not just for comfort, but for basic survival.
The economic system in Kingdom Come Deliverance 2 mirrors the complexity of actual medieval commerce. Unlike many RPGs where gold flows freely from slain monsters, here every groschen must be earned through realistic means. Merchants operate on limited budgets and won’t simply purchase unlimited quantities of goods. Prices fluctuate based on your reputation and haggling skills. Stolen goods carry markers that locals might recognize. This attention to detail creates a deeply immersive experience, but it also means players need to think strategically about how they generate income. Fortunately, the game offers multiple paths to prosperity, catering to different playstyles and moral compasses.
The Way of the Thief: Quick but Risky Profits
For players willing to embrace a morally questionable path, becoming a skilled thief represents one of the fastest routes to wealth in Kingdom Come Deliverance 2. While this approach carries significant risks—both legal consequences in-game and spiritual damnation according to the medieval Catholic worldview the game authentically portrays—it can yield substantial returns for the daring. Mastering lockpicking allows Henry to access locked homes and treasure chests throughout villages and towns during the night hours when residents sleep. The key to successful thievery lies in preparation: equipping dark clothing that makes minimal noise significantly reduces the chances of detection. Players should note that stolen goods cannot be sold in the same location where they were acquired, as NPCs may recognize items that once belonged to their neighbors. This limitation encourages players to maintain a network of distant merchants or to seek out less scrupulous buyers.
Horse theft represents an even more lucrative criminal enterprise. Players can steal horses under cover of darkness and sell them to Mikolai, a stable master located at the Gypsy Camp west of Trosky in the game’s first major region. This black market trader offers several hundred groschen per stolen mount, though the transaction can only be completed once every 24 in-game hours. The historical accuracy here is noteworthy—horse theft was indeed a serious crime in medieval Europe, often punishable by death, but it was also extremely profitable for those willing to take the risk. The Gypsy camps of medieval Bohemia existed on society’s margins, making them logical places for such illegal commerce to occur.
Honest Labor: Crafting Your Fortune
Players who prefer to keep Henry’s soul unblemished can pursue wealth through legitimate crafting professions. Blacksmithing and alchemy offer particularly rewarding opportunities for those willing to invest time in learning these trades. At the forge, players can create weapons and armor that serve dual purposes—equipping Henry for combat while also generating income through sales. A well-crafted longsword fetches approximately 150 groschen, providing steady returns for skilled smiths. The forging process itself is remarkably detailed, requiring players to heat metal, shape it on the anvil, and properly temper the finished product. This attention to authentic medieval crafting techniques sets Kingdom Come Deliverance 2 apart from its competitors.
Alchemy proves equally profitable, with potions like the Savior Schnapps (essential for saving your game) and combat-enhancing brews commanding excellent prices. The Lion potion, which increases strength, sells for 80-90 groschen at superior quality and requires only sage and mint—two easily foraged ingredients. The brewing process involves specific steps: preparing two measures of sage and two of mint, adding spirits to the cauldron, introducing the sage and boiling for two turns, then grinding and adding the mint before completing the distillation. While these activities can become repetitive, they provide consistent, risk-free income and valuable supplies for Henry’s own use.
Adventure and Combat: Treasure Maps and Bandit Hunting
Once players have accumulated enough starting capital and basic equipment, they can pursue more adventurous money-making activities. Treasure maps scattered throughout Kingdom Come Deliverance 2’s open world lead to caches of valuable items, including significant sums of groschen, high-quality weapons and armor, and rare curiosities. Some treasures even include loaded dice that can be used to win gambling games in taverns—a clever mechanic that transforms one profitable activity into another. Finding these maps requires exploration, purchasing from merchants, or looting defeated enemies. A shovel, available from general goods stores, is essential for excavating buried treasures.
Hunting bandits becomes increasingly viable as Henry grows stronger. These outlaws infest the roads and forests of Bohemia, and eliminating them not only makes travel safer but provides substantial loot. Their equipment—weapons, armor, and personal valuables—can all be sold to appropriate merchants. Attacking bandit camps at night offers tactical advantages, allowing players to silently eliminate sentries and sleeping criminals before they can mount an organized defense. This approach combines the stealth skills developed for thievery with combat prowess, creating a satisfying gameplay loop that rewards player investment in multiple skill trees.
Tournament Glory: Fame and Fortune Combined
For players seeking both wealth and reputation, Kingdom Come Deliverance 2’s tournament system offers the perfect opportunity. These competitive events span multiple disciplines including pugilism, sword fighting, and archery. While participation requires an entry fee—a betting stake that adds tension to each bout—successful competitors earn substantial prizes alongside improved standing in their communities. The historical accuracy here reflects actual medieval tournament culture, where knights and soldiers alike competed for glory and practical rewards. Beginning players should start with tournaments in smaller villages where competition is less fierce, gradually working up to more prestigious events as their skills improve. Victory in these contests not only fills Henry’s purse but also opens doors to new opportunities, as NPCs throughout the game world respond more favorably to renowned champions.
Expert Opinion: Kingdom Come Deliverance 2’s economic system represents a masterclass in immersive game design, forcing players to engage with its world on historically authentic terms rather than relying on fantasy RPG conventions. The diversity of money-making options ensures that whether players prefer stealth, combat, crafting, or legitimate trade, viable paths to prosperity exist. As more players discover this gem through PlayStation Plus, expect community discussions around optimal economic strategies to flourish, potentially revealing even more efficient methods that dedicated players have yet to uncover.
