"Jump Ship Preview: Sea of Thieves and Left 4 Dead Collide in Polished Fun"

If you're someone who attended the Game Developer’s Conference just over a year ago, then you might remember walking into a meeting where Jump Ship was first introduced to the world—a four-player sci-fi PvE shooter blending elements from Sea of Thieves, Left 4 Dead, and FTL. The moment I tried it, I knew it was something truly special. Recently, I had the chance to dive deeper into the latest build alongside some of the developers, and if there’s one indie title that could break through in this already packed year of releases, my money’s on Jump Ship. As it prepares for an Early Access launch this summer, it’s only gotten better—more polished and undeniably fun.

For those unfamiliar, Jump Ship is a cooperative space adventure designed for up to four players. However, it’s not strictly multiplayer; the team at Keepsake Games has been listening to feedback and is working on a clever way to make the game enjoyable for solo players as well. Think of it as a single-player experience with narrative-driven AI companions to assist you in managing the ship. You’ll get a glimpse of this in the Prologue, which serves as both a tutorial and a lore builder. It introduces you to key mechanics like shooting, space suit navigation, piloting the ship, and combat—all while setting the stage for the unfolding story.

Jump Ship - Closed Beta Screenshots

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Jump Ship now boasts a compelling story woven into its core PvE gameplay. A malevolent virus has infected machines across the galaxy, and it’s up to you and your fellow Atirans to uncover its source at the heart of the galaxy and stop it. Each sector offers procedurally generated chains of missions, ranging from quick 10-minute challenges to longer, hour-long adventures. The Jump Map provides visual cues to help you gauge the risk versus reward of each mission—color-coded paths indicate the intensity of the encounters ahead.

Aiding you on your journey is Iris, a non-infected AI companion introduced in the Prologue. Iris serves as both a guide and narrator, adding much-needed structure to the gameplay while keeping the story engaging. Additionally, the Hangar acts as your base of operations, offering a place to cash in in-game currency for outfit customization, explore the Galaxy Map, and even engage in some downtime activities like mini-games.

Core Four-Player Gameplay

The core four-player experience is nothing short of exhilarating. As you embark on your mission, expect the unexpected. Your ship will encounter attacks mid-journey, forcing one player to pilot and defend with the meager weapons mounted in the pilot’s chair, while another takes charge of the 360-degree pivoting cannon. Meanwhile, the remaining two players might be outside the ship, tethered by magnetic boots, firing at incoming threats. Of course, things can quickly spiral out of control—damaged hulls mean running inside to grab a fire extinguisher and crawling into vents to extinguish the flames. After all, maintaining your ship is crucial to survival.

When you finally reach your destination, the entire crew disembarks and ventures inside the facility housing the loot. Infected robots will relentlessly pursue you, making teamwork vital at every turn. A grappling hook helps you navigate both terrestrial and zero-gravity environments swiftly. Once the loot is secured, one player must bring it back to the ship while the rest fend off attackers.

Both my initial demo last year and the recent session I played were brief, showcasing the game’s ability to deliver fun in short bursts. This makes it accessible without demanding hours of commitment. However, I’m eager to see more of the larger mission structures and procedural variety to determine if it fulfills its promise of endless replayability. Based on everything I’ve experienced so far, Jump Ship feels like a recipe for success. With its perfect blend of mechanics and storytelling, it’s poised to become something truly special. I can’t wait to play more.

Release Date: Q3 2025
Platforms: PC, Xbox Series X|S
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