"Jump Ship Preview: Sea of Thieves and Left 4 Dead Blend, Now More Polished and Fun"

It was nearly a year ago at the Game Developer's Conference when I first encountered Jump Ship, a captivating four-player sci-fi PvE shooter that skillfully blends elements from Sea of Thieves, Left 4 Dead, and FTL. After recently experiencing the latest build alongside some of the developers, I'm convinced that Jump Ship has the potential to be a breakout indie hit in a year already brimming with exciting releases. As it gears up for an Early Access launch this Summer, the game feels more polished and enjoyable than ever.

If you're not yet familiar with Jump Ship, let me introduce you to this non-grindy space adventure designed for up to four players. Interestingly, it's not just about multiplayer; Keepsake Games has listened to player feedback and is crafting a way for solo players to dive in. They're developing narratively driven AI assistants that will help solo players manage the ship. You can experience a glimpse of this in the Prologue, which serves as both a tutorial—introducing you to mechanics like shooting, space suit flying, ship piloting, and combat—and a lore-builder, setting the stage for the adventure ahead.

Jump Ship - Closed Beta Screenshots

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Jump Ship now boasts a compelling narrative that complements its core PvE gameplay. The story revolves around a malevolent virus infecting machines across the galaxy. As part of the Atiran crew, your mission is to journey to the galaxy's heart and eradicate the threat. You'll navigate through procedurally generated mission chains in each sector, with missions ranging from quick 10-minute sessions to more involved hour-long adventures. The Jump Map's color-coded choices provide a sense of the risk involved, ensuring you're aware of the potential rewards and dangers ahead.

Adding depth to the experience is Iris, a non-infected AI you meet in the Prologue, who serves as a guiding narrator during your missions. This narrative element nicely complements Jump Ship's robust gameplay. The Hangar acts as your home base, where you can spend in-game currency on customizing your outfits, explore the Galaxy Map, and even play soccer during downtime.

The heart of Jump Ship lies in its exhilarating four-player gameplay. Missions rarely go as planned, leading to thrilling moments where one player pilots the ship and fires from the pilot's chair, while another operates the ship's 360-degree-pivoting cannon. Meanwhile, the other two might be outside, magnetically attached to the ship's hull, taking shots at enemy ships. When your ship sustains damage, players must rush inside, grab a fire extinguisher, navigate through vents, and put out fires to keep the ship operational—essential for maintaining that all-important pineapple pizza-maker!

Jump ShipKeepsake GamesQ3 2025 Wishlist

Upon reaching your destination, all four players disembark to infiltrate the structure housing the coveted loot. You'll face relentless, infected robots that demand teamwork at every turn. Utilizing your grappling hook to swiftly navigate both ground and space environments, one player must secure the loot and return it to the ship while the others provide cover, ensuring the mission's success.

Both my demo sessions—one last year and the recent one—were brief. While this showcases Jump Ship's ability to deliver fun in short bursts, it hasn't allowed me to fully explore the broader mission structure and the variety offered by procedural generation. However, everything I've experienced so far hints at a potential blockbuster. Jump Ship possesses all the essential elements to become something extraordinary, and I eagerly anticipate playing much more of it.