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

If you’re looking for the next breakout indie hit in what’s shaping up to be an incredible year for gaming, Jump Ship might just be it. I first encountered this four-player sci-fi PvE shooter almost exactly one year ago at the Game Developer’s Conference, and since then, it's only grown more polished and more exciting. After recently getting the chance to play the latest build with some of the developers from Keepsake Games, I can confidently say that Jump Ship is on track for a strong Early Access launch this summer.

At its core, Jump Ship is a cooperative space adventure for up to four players — though the team clarified that “co-op” doesn’t necessarily mean you need a full squad. The game now includes narratively driven AI companions, allowing solo players to enjoy the experience as if it were a single-player campaign. This concept is introduced early on through the Prologue, which doubles as both a gameplay tutorial and a narrative setup. You’ll learn how to shoot, maneuver in your space suit, pilot your ship, and engage in combat — all while getting a taste of the story and universe.

Jump Ship – Closed Beta Screenshots

12 Images

What really elevates Jump Ship now is its evolving narrative. A dangerous virus has infected machines across the galaxy, and you and your fellow Atirans must uncover its source at the galactic core. Missions are procedurally generated within each sector, varying in length from around 10 minutes to over an hour. Thanks to the color-coded branching paths on the Jump Map, you’ll know roughly how risky each route is before diving in — and naturally, the greater the danger, the better the rewards.

You’re not completely alone in this mission. During the Prologue, you’ll meet Iris — a friendly, non-infected AI who serves as your guide and narrator throughout the journey. Her presence adds much-needed structure to the already solid gameplay loop. Between missions, you’ll return to the Hangar, your central hub where you can spend in-game currency to customize your character, explore the Galaxy Map, or even unwind with a quick game of soccer.

Back to the action: the real magic happens when all four players are working together. From the moment you depart, things rarely go smoothly. One player might pilot the ship and fire the basic cockpit-mounted weapons, while another mans the ship’s turret, rotating it 360 degrees to target incoming enemies. Meanwhile, two others could be outside, boots magnetized to the hull, firing at enemy ships. If the ship gets damaged, someone will have to rush inside, grab a fire extinguisher, and crawl through vents to put out flames — because yes, keeping the ship’s systems (including that all-important pizza oven) running is critical.

Jump Ship – Keepsake Games
Q3 2025

Once you reach your destination, everyone disembarks and fights their way through the infected structures to secure valuable loot. Battling waves of aggressive robots requires constant teamwork. Grappling hooks let you zip between areas quickly — whether on the ground or floating in space — and once the loot is secured, one player must carry it back to the ship while the rest provide cover.

Both my demo last year and the recent session were relatively short, but that actually worked in Jump Ship's favor. It proves the game is fun in bite-sized sessions, so you don't need to sacrifice your day job to keep playing. That said, I’m still eager to see how the larger procedural loops hold up over time. Still, everything I’ve played so far makes me believe Jump Ship has all the ingredients to become something truly special. Keep your eyes peeled for its Early Access launch — this one could definitely break big.