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 truly unique. Having recently played the latest build with a few of the developers, I'm more convinced than ever that if any indie game is poised to break out in this year's crowded release schedule, Jump Ship is a strong contender. As it gears up for an Early Access launch this Summer, the game is more polished and enjoyable than ever before.
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. And yes, I'm highlighting "players" because the team at Keepsake Games is actively responding to feedback and developing innovative features for solo players. If you prefer flying solo, you'll be joined by narratively crafted AI assistants to help manage the ship. You get a glimpse of this in the Prologue, which not only serves as a tutorial, introducing you to mechanics like shooting, flying in your space suit, ship piloting, and combat, but also sets the stage for the game's lore.
Jump Ship - Closed Beta Screenshots
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Jump Ship now boasts a compelling story that enriches its core PvE gameplay. A dangerous virus has spread throughout the galaxy's machines, and it's up to you and your fellow Atirans to trace its origin to the galaxy's heart and stop it. You'll navigate through procedurally generated mission chains in each sector to reach your goal. Missions can vary in length from 10 minutes to an hour, and the Jump Map's color-coded choices give you a heads-up on the level of danger—and potential rewards—you're about to face.
Assisting you on your journey is Iris, a non-infected AI you meet in the Prologue, who narrates your missions and adds a structured narrative to the robust gameplay. The Hangar serves as your base of operations, where you can spend in-game currency on outfits, explore the Galaxy Map, and even play a game of soccer during downtime.
Let's dive back into that thrilling four-player gameplay. It's genuinely fun! As you set off on your mission, things can quickly go awry. Your ship might be attacked en route, requiring one player to take the helm and use the pilot's chair weapons, while another operates the ship's 360-degree-pivoting cannon. Meanwhile, the other two could be outside, mag-booted to the hull, taking shots at passing ships. But if your ship is hit, someone must rush inside, grab a fire extinguisher, navigate through vents, and extinguish the flames—after all, you need to keep that pineapple pizza-maker in top condition!
Jump ShipKeepsake Games Wishlist
Upon reaching your destination, all four players disembark and navigate the structure containing your target loot. The relentless, infected robots won't make it easy, so teamwork is crucial at every turn. Your grappling hook accelerates movement, both on foot and in space, and once you've secured the loot, one player must safely transport it back to the ship while the others provide cover.
Both my demo from last year and my recent session were brief. While this demonstrates that Jump Ship is engaging even in short bursts, allowing you to enjoy it without dedicating your entire life to it, I haven't yet experienced enough of the broader mission structure and procedural variety to fully assess its replayability. However, everything I've seen so far points to Jump Ship having the potential to be a major hit. With all the right elements in place, I'm eager to dive in and play much more.
