Storage Hunter Simulator

 
Storage Hunter Simulator is a simulation game that lets you live out the fantasy of reality TV shows like Storage Wars. Developed by Raccoons Studio and published by Astragon Entertainment, the game left Early Access for its full 1.0 release on November 27, 2025. It combines the thrill of blind bidding with the meticulous (and sometimes tedious) work of appraisal, repair, and retail management. While it aims to be the definitive “storage auction” game, its ambitious scope is often hampered by technical jank and a buggy physics engine.
Bid, Win, Sell: Core Gameplay

The Auction Loop: The game revolves around attending auctions for abandoned storage units. You have a few seconds to peek inside before bidding starts. The thrill comes from spotting a high-value item (like a rare guitar or antique furniture) hidden under piles of garbage and outbidding the AI without bankrupting yourself.
The Pawn Shop: Unlike simple “click-to-sell” games, you run a physical shop. You must transport items back to your store using your truck (which you manually drive in an open world), repair damaged goods, appraise them to find their true value, and display them on shelves for customers.
Open World & Exploration: The game features a small but open map with different districts. You don’t just fast-travel; you drive your pickup truck to auctions, pawn shops, and your own properties. This adds immersion but also introduces the game’s biggest enemy: vehicle physics.
Tools & Progression: As you level up, you unlock tools to appraise items faster, better trucks for hauling more loot, and larger shops to display more inventory. You can even hire employees to automate sales while you are out hunting.
Multiplayer: The 1.0 update introduced 4-player co-op, allowing you and your friends to bid on units together, split the hauling duties, and run the shop as a chaotic team.

How It Stacks Up
Storage Hunter Simulator is often compared to Storage Hustle, its direct competitor.



Feature
Storage Hunter Simulator
Storage Hustle




Scope
Broader. Features an open world with driving mechanics, multiple districts, and a more complex employee/shop management system.
Focused. Smaller scale, focusing more tightly on the bidding and selling loop without the open-world driving distraction.


Visuals
Better graphical fidelity and lighting, aiming for a more realistic look.
More stylized and slightly dated visuals, but often runs smoother on lower-end hardware.


Multiplayer
Supports up to 4-player co-op, making it a great “party” sim.
Primarily a single-player experience (though modders have attempted to add features).


Polish
Low. Plagued by physics bugs (items falling through floors, trucks flipping) even after 1.0 launch.
Medium. Generally more stable but has less content and variety in items.



Key Details

Developer: Raccoons Studio (part of BeardedBrothers.Games).
Publisher: Astragon Entertainment.
Platforms: PC (Steam). PS5 version released September 2025; Xbox status is unconfirmed as of Jan 2026.
Release Date: November 27, 2025 (v1.0 Full Release).
Genre: Simulation / Business Management.
Vibe: House Flipper meets Euro Truck Simulator (but glitchier).

Who It’s For

Must-play for co-op groups who enjoy “janky” simulators. The bugs often result in hilarious moments, like a truck full of antique vases exploding because you hit a curb too hard.
Perfect for treasure hunters. If you get a dopamine hit from finding a $5,000 painting behind a pile of old tires, the core loop will hook you.
Skip if you want a polished, serious business sim. The economy can be easily broken, and the physics glitches will frustrate anyone looking for a seamless experience.

Why It Works
It works because it gamifies curiosity. Every closed door is a mystery box. Even though the gameplay can be repetitive, the urge to see “what’s in the next unit” is a powerful motivator. The addition of the pawn shop layer gives your findings purpose—you aren’t just watching a number go up; you are building a retail empire out of other people’s junk.