It was nearly a year ago at the Game Developers Conference that I first encountered Jump Ship, an innovative four-player sci-fi PvE shooter that skillfully blends elements from Sea of Thieves, Left 4 Dead, and FTL. After recently playing the latest build alongside the developers, I'm convinced that if any indie game has the potential to break out in this crowded year of game releases, Jump Ship is a strong contender. As it approaches its Early Access launch this summer, the game has become more polished and enjoyable than ever before.

If Jump Ship is new to you, it's a non-grindy space adventure designed for up to four players. However, the team at Keepsake Games has listened to feedback and is crafting a unique experience for solo players as well. For those preferring a single-player experience, the game will feature narratively driven AI assistants to help manage the ship. This is introduced in the Prologue, which serves both as a tutorial—covering mechanics like shooting, space suit flying, ship operations, and combat—and as a way to build the game's lore.

Jump Ship - Closed Beta Screenshots

12 Images

Jump Ship now boasts a compelling story woven into its core PvE gameplay. The narrative centers around a malicious virus that has infected machines across the galaxy, and it's up to you and your fellow Atirans to stop it at its source. You'll navigate through procedurally generated mission chains in each sector, with mission durations ranging from 10 minutes to an hour. The Jump Map uses color-coding to indicate the level of danger associated with each mission choice, promising greater rewards for braver endeavors.

Aiding your journey is Iris, a non-infected AI you meet in the Prologue, who serves as a narrator during your missions. This adds a structured narrative to the already solid gameplay. The Hangar acts as your base of operations, where you can spend in-game currency on outfit customization, explore the broader Galaxy Map, and even play soccer during downtime.

The core four-player gameplay remains incredibly engaging. Missions often go awry, requiring one player to pilot the ship and use the pilot's chair weapons while another operates the ship's main cannon. Meanwhile, the remaining players might be outside, magnetically attached to the hull, shooting at enemy ships. If the ship is damaged, players must rush inside to extinguish fires using a fire extinguisher, often crawling through vents to reach the affected areas. After all, keeping the ship functional is crucial, even if it's just to maintain the onboard pizza maker!

Jump ShipKeepsake GamesQ3 2025 Wishlist

Once you reach your destination, all four players disembark and navigate the structure to retrieve the loot. The infected robots are relentless, making teamwork crucial at every turn. The grappling hook allows for swift movement 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 last year and the recent one were brief. While this demonstrates that Jump Ship is enjoyable in short sessions, meaning you won't need to sacrifice your day job to play, I'm yet to fully explore the broader mission structure and the variety offered by its procedurally generated content. However, everything I've experienced so far suggests that Jump Ship has the potential to be a major hit. It combines all the right elements to become something truly special, and I'm eager to dive in and play much more.