Bunker Tidy Up supply categories
Everything in Bunker Tidy Up revolves around one question: which shelf does this belong on? The official feature list names the category system as one of the game's five pillars — "dozens of supply categories: food, medicine, tools, books" — and sorting by category is the core skill the game asks you to learn.
The numbers behind the clutter
| Fact | Value | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Advertised main-bunker supplies | 17,437; Easy Mode has fewer | Official short description |
| Unique items to sort | 100+ | Official feature list |
| Named categories | Food, medicine, tools, books | Official feature list |
| Additional categories | "Dozens" in total | Official feature list |
| Placement rule | Each item has its own logic for placement | Official feature list |
The four categories the developer names
- Food — stockpile staples; the official screenshots show items like potatoes among the shelvable goods.
- Medicine — medical supplies get their own shelves rather than being mixed into general storage.
- Tools — equipment and hardware.
- Books — reading material is its own category, because of course it is. Confirmed in-game by the "Archivist" achievement: correctly place all the books.
The four names above are examples within a larger category system. Use the item label and the destination shelf in your run, then check the counter after placing a small batch.
How placement works
Two official claims define the system:
- Each of the 100+ unique items has its own logic for placement — this is not a freeform sandbox where anything goes; items are "correctly" shelved somewhere, and learning that logic is the puzzle.
- The counters keep you honest. The in-game HUD tracks your progress with item counters (the official screenshots show running tallies such as 14 / 17,276 alongside category counts), so you always know how much clutter remains.
Items seen in official screenshots
These item names appear verbatim in the game's official store screenshots, so they are confirmed in-game:
- Gas mask
- Potatoes
- Urban backpack
- Bulletproof vest
- Military backpack
- Fuel canister
Easy Mode and the last few items
Easy Mode, added October 23, reduces the item count and increases the size of some objects. The 17,437 figure in the store description is a main-bunker reference, rather than the total every mode must display. For a stubborn category, read its remaining count first, check the corresponding piles and shelves, and confirm that a test placement changes the correct counter.
Correct placement, disposal and collecting are distinct goals: American Dream asks for all items to be shelved correctly; Not a Scratch asks for 100 thrown-away items; Nothing Forgotten concerns collectibles. Use the achievement list to choose your objective before discarding supplies.
The October update also revised the ending and added interactive elements. For a replay, New Game+ keeps your skills but resets accumulated points.
Next: learn the controls that drive the sorting loop.
Sources: October 23 update, v1.0.5 skill changes, Steam store.