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

It was almost exactly one year ago that I walked into a meeting during the Game Developer’s Conference and first got introduced to Jump Ship, a four-player sci-fi PvE shooter that blends mechanics from Sea of Thieves, Left 4 Dead, and FTL into something I thought was extremely special. Recently, I had the opportunity to dive into the latest build with some of the developers, and if any indie game has the potential to break out big in this year's crowded release schedule, Jump Ship is my top pick. As it gears up for an Early Access launch this Summer, it's more polished and more fun than ever.

If you're not yet familiar with Jump Ship, imagine a non-grindy space adventure designed for up to four players. I specifically avoid calling it just a multiplayer game because the team at Keepsake Games has been listening to feedback and is crafting a unique way for solo players to enjoy the experience. For those who prefer to play alone, the game will feature narratively driven AI assistants to help you manage the ship. You'll get a taste of this in the Prologue, which serves as both a tutorial—introducing you to shooting, flying in a space suit, manning and piloting the ship, and engaging in ship combat—and a lore-builder.

Jump Ship - Closed Beta Screenshots

12 ImagesJump Ship now boasts a compelling story woven into its core PvE gameplay. A malicious virus has infected machines across the galaxy, and it's up to you and your fellow Atirans to reach the heart of the galaxy and stop it. You'll navigate through procedurally generated mission chains in each sector to achieve this goal. Missions can last anywhere from 10 minutes to an hour, and the Jump Map's color-coded choices give you a sense of the danger level you're choosing to face. Remember, the greater the risk, the greater the reward.

Jump Ship now has a much-appreciated story behind its core PvE gameplay. Assisting you is a non-infected AI named Iris, whom you meet in the Prologue. Iris acts as a narrator during your missions, adding a welcome layer of structure to the game's solid foundation. The Hangar serves as your base of operations, where you can spend in-game currency to buy and customize outfits, explore the Galaxy Map, and even play a bit of soccer during your downtime.

But let's get back to that thrilling four-player gameplay. It's an absolute blast! As you embark on your mission, things won't always go as planned. Your ship might be attacked en route, requiring one player to pilot and use the pilot's chair weapons, while another operates the ship's 360-degree-pivoting cannon. Meanwhile, the other two might be mag-booted to the ship's hull, taking shots at passing ships. If an enemy damages your ship, one or more of you will need to rush inside, grab a fire extinguisher, crawl into a vent, and put out the flames. After all, you need to keep that pineapple pizza-maker in full working order!

Jump ShipKeepsake GamesQ3 2025 WishlistOnce you reach your destination, all four players disembark and navigate the structure to retrieve the loot. These infected robots won't go down easily, so teamwork is crucial at every step. Your grappling hook allows for quick movement both on the ground and in space, and once you've secured the big loot, one player must get it back to the ship while the others provide cover for their vulnerable, arms-full teammate.

Both my demo last year and my latest one were brief. On one hand, this demonstrates that Jump Ship is enjoyable in short bursts, meaning you don't need to quit your job to keep up with it. On the other hand, I haven't seen enough of the larger mission structure and the variety of procedurally generated content to fully assess its replayability. However, everything I've experienced so far suggests that Jump Ship has the potential to be a major hit. It has all the right ingredients to become something truly special, and I'm eagerly looking forward to playing much more.