It was almost exactly one year ago at the Game Developer’s Conference when I first encountered Jump Ship, a four-player sci-fi PvE shooter that skillfully blends elements from Sea of Thieves, Left 4 Dead, and FTL into an experience I found truly unique. Recently, I had the opportunity to dive into the latest build with some of the developers, and I'm convinced that if any indie game is poised to make a big splash in an already crowded year of releases, it's Jump Ship. As it gears up for an Early Access launch this Summer, the game is more polished and engaging than ever before.

If you're not yet familiar with Jump Ship, it's a non-grindy space adventure designed for up to four players. However, I'm careful not to label it strictly as a multiplayer game because Keepsake Games has been responsive to feedback and is developing ways for solo players to enjoy the experience. They're introducing narratively-driven AI assistants that can help manage the ship, a feature you'll get a taste of in the Prologue. This opening section serves both as a tutorial, familiarizing you with core gameplay mechanics like shooting, flying in your space suit, handling ship operations, and engaging in ship combat, as well as setting up the game's lore.

Jump Ship - Closed Beta Screenshots

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Jump Ship now weaves a compelling story into its core PvE gameplay. The narrative revolves around a malicious virus that has infected machines across the galaxy. As an Atiran, your mission is to journey to the heart of the galaxy to eradicate this threat. You'll navigate through procedurally generated missions in each sector, varying in length from 10 minutes to an hour. The Jump Map uses color-coding to indicate the level of danger you'll face, with higher risks promising greater rewards.

Aiding you on your quest is Iris, an uninfected AI introduced in the Prologue, who serves as a narrator for your missions. This addition brings structure to the already solid gameplay foundation. The Hangar, your base of operations, allows you to spend in-game currency on customizing your outfits, exploring the Galaxy Map, and even playing a bit of soccer during downtime.

The core four-player gameplay is where Jump Ship truly shines. Missions rarely go as planned; your ship might be attacked en route, prompting 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 could be outside, mag-booted to the hull, taking shots at passing enemies. If your ship is damaged, someone must rush inside, grab a fire extinguisher, navigate through vents, and extinguish the flames to keep everything running smoothly—including the beloved pineapple pizza-maker!

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Upon reaching your destination, all four players disembark and navigate the structure to secure the desired loot. You'll face relentless waves of infected robots, making teamwork crucial. Your grappling hook aids in swift movement both on the ground and in space, and once the loot is secured, one player must carry it back to the ship while the others provide cover.

Both my demo last year and the latest one were brief. These short sessions demonstrate that Jump Ship is fun in short bursts, meaning you don't need to dedicate endless hours to enjoy it. However, I haven't yet experienced the full breadth of the mission structure and the variety offered by procedural generation to fully assess its replayability. Nevertheless, everything I've seen points to Jump Ship having the potential to be a major hit. With all the right elements in place, I'm eager to dive deeper into this promising game.