Jump Ship: Polished Sea of Thieves Meets Left 4 Dead

A year ago at the Game Developers Conference, I first encountered Jump Ship, a four-player sci-fi PvE shooter blending elements of Sea of Thieves, Left 4 Dead, and FTL. It immediately impressed me. A recent playthrough with the developers confirmed my initial excitement; this indie title has the potential to be a breakout hit in a crowded year of releases. Heading towards Early Access this summer, it's more polished and enjoyable than ever.

For the uninitiated, Jump Ship is a space adventure for up to four players—though the developers at Keepsake Games are incorporating a clever solo mode. Responding to player feedback, they're creating a narratively driven experience using AI assistants to manage the ship for solo players. The Prologue serves as both a tutorial (covering shooting, space suit maneuvers, piloting, and ship combat) and a lore introduction.

Jump Ship - Closed Beta Screenshots

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The game features a compelling story: a malicious virus infects machines across the galaxy, and you and your fellow Atirans must reach the galaxy's core to stop it. Missions unfold through procedurally generated chains within each sector, varying in length from 10 minutes to an hour. The Jump Map uses color-coding to indicate mission difficulty, allowing players to choose their risk level—higher risk often means greater rewards.

Jump Ship's core PvE gameplay is enhanced by Iris, a non-infected AI discovered in the Prologue, who acts as a mission narrator. The Hangar serves as your base of operations, where you spend in-game currency to customize your appearance, view the Galaxy Map, and even play soccer.

The four-player gameplay is incredibly fun. Missions rarely go as planned. You might find yourselves juggling piloting, manning weapons, performing hull repairs (using a fire extinguisher!), and protecting your loot-carrying teammate. Teamwork is crucial, from ship combat to navigating enemy-infested structures, utilizing grappling hooks for efficient traversal.

Jump ShipKeepsake GamesQ3 2025 Wishlist

Both my previous and recent demos were brief, highlighting Jump Ship's suitability for shorter play sessions. While I haven't fully explored the larger mission structure and procedural generation, the potential for endless replayability is evident. The game has all the makings of a special title, and I eagerly anticipate playing more.