Just about a year ago, I stepped into a meeting at the Game Developer’s Conference and was introduced to Jump Ship, a four-player sci-fi PvE shooter that cleverly mixes elements from Sea of Thieves, Left 4 Dead, and FTL. After recently trying out the latest build with some of the developers, I'm convinced that if any indie game is poised to make a big splash in this year's crowded release calendar, Jump Ship is a top contender. As it gears up for an Early Access launch this Summer, the game has become even more polished and enjoyable.
If you're not yet familiar with Jump Ship, it's a non-grindy space adventure designed for up to four players. Interestingly, I avoided calling it strictly multiplayer because Keepsake Games is adapting to player feedback by introducing a feature for solo players to enjoy the game. They're implementing narratively driven AI assistants to help you manage the ship, allowing you to experience Jump Ship as a single-player game if you wish. You get a glimpse of this in the Prologue, which serves as both a tutorial—introducing mechanics like shooting, flying in your space suit, and ship combat—and a lore-building experience.
Jump Ship - Closed Beta Screenshots
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One of the standout additions to Jump Ship is its much-appreciated story, which adds depth to the core PvE gameplay. The narrative revolves around a malicious virus that has infected machines across the galaxy. You and your fellow Atirans must journey to the galaxy's heart to stop it. You'll navigate through procedurally generated mission chains in each sector, with missions ranging from 10 minutes to an hour. The Jump Map uses color-coding to indicate the level of danger and reward for each branching path you choose.
An AI named Iris, whom you meet in the Prologue, aids you on your missions, serving as a narrator and adding structure to the gameplay. The Hangar acts as your base of operations, where you can spend in-game currency on outfits, explore the Galaxy Map, and even play soccer in your downtime.
Returning to the core four-player gameplay, it's incredibly engaging. Missions rarely go according to plan; your ship might get 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 players might be mag-booted to the ship's hull, shooting at passing enemies. If the ship is damaged, someone must rush inside, grab a fire extinguisher, and crawl through vents to put out fires—ensuring the ship's vital systems, like the pineapple pizza-maker, remain operational!
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Upon reaching your destination, all four players disembark and navigate the structure to retrieve the loot. You'll encounter relentless, infected robots, making teamwork crucial. The grappling hook enhances mobility both on the ground and in space, and after securing the loot, one player must carry it back to the ship while the others provide cover.
Both my demo from last year and my recent one were brief, showcasing Jump Ship's ability to deliver fun in short bursts, so you won't need to dedicate endless hours to keep up. However, I haven't yet seen enough of the larger mission structure and the variety offered by procedural generation to fully assess its replayability. Despite this, everything I've experienced so far indicates that Jump Ship has the potential to be a major hit. It possesses all the essential elements to become something truly special, and I eagerly anticipate playing more.
