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

It was almost exactly one year ago that 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 masterfully combines elements from Sea of Thieves, Left 4 Dead, and FTL into a uniquely captivating experience. Recently, I had the opportunity to dive into the latest build with some of the developers, and I can confidently say that if any indie game has the potential to make a big splash in an already crowded year of releases, Jump Ship is my top pick. As it approaches its Early Access launch this Summer, the game is more polished and enjoyable than ever.

For those not yet familiar with Jump Ship, it's a non-grindy space adventure designed for up to four players. Notably, the team at Keepsake Games is actively adapting to player feedback and is crafting a unique experience for solo players. If you prefer to play alone, you'll be supported by narratively crafted AI assistants who help manage the ship. This aspect is introduced in the Prologue, which serves both as a tutorial and a lore-building segment. Here, you'll learn key mechanics such as shooting, navigating in a space suit, handling the ship, and engaging in ship-to-ship combat.

Jump Ship - Closed Beta Screenshots

12 Images

Adding depth to its core PvE gameplay, Jump Ship now features a compelling narrative. The story revolves around a dangerous virus that has infected machines across the galaxy, and it's up to you and your fellow Atirans to trace its source at the galaxy's heart and stop it. You'll navigate through procedurally generated mission chains in each sector, with missions ranging from quick 10-minute jaunts to hour-long adventures. Each mission on the Jump Map is color-coded to indicate the level of danger and potential rewards, allowing you to make informed choices about the risks you're willing to take.

Assisting you in your journey is Iris, a non-infected AI introduced in the Prologue, who serves as a narrator throughout your missions. This adds a structured layer to the robust gameplay foundation of Jump Ship. The Hangar acts as your base of operations, where you can spend in-game currency on outfits and customization, explore the Galaxy Map, and even enjoy some downtime with a game of soccer.

The core four-player gameplay is exhilarating. Missions rarely go as planned; your ship might be attacked en route, necessitating one player to pilot and use the limited pilot’s chair weapons, while another operates the ship’s 360-degree-pivoting cannon. Meanwhile, the remaining players could be mag-booted to the hull, firing at enemy ships. If the ship is damaged, players must rush inside, grab a fire extinguisher, and navigate through vents to extinguish fires, ensuring the ship—and its crucial amenities like the pineapple pizza-maker—remains operational.

Jump Ship
Keepsake Games
Q3 2025 Wishlist

Upon reaching your destination, all four players disembark and navigate on foot to retrieve the coveted loot. Facing relentless waves of hostile, infected robots, teamwork is key. Your grappling hook speeds up movement both on the ground and in space, and once the loot is secured, one player must transport it back to the ship while the others provide cover, protecting the vulnerable, loot-laden teammate.

Both my demo from last year and the recent one were brief, demonstrating that Jump Ship is engaging even in short sessions, allowing you to enjoy the game without needing to dedicate extensive time. However, I haven't yet explored the full extent of the larger mission structure and the variety offered by its procedural generation to fully assess its replayability potential. Nonetheless, everything I've experienced so far hints at Jump Ship being a potential blockbuster. It has all the right elements to become something extraordinary, and I eagerly anticipate playing much more of it.