Jump Ship Preview: It's Sea of Thieves Meets Left 4 Dead, and it's Even More Polished and Fun Than Last Year

A year ago at the Game Developers Conference, I first encountered Jump Ship, a four-player sci-fi PvE shooter blending the best of Sea of Thieves, Left 4 Dead, and FTL. My recent hands-on with a new build, alongside the developers, solidified my belief: this indie game has the potential to be a major breakout hit in a crowded year. Heading towards Early Access this summer, it's more polished and enjoyable than ever.

For the uninitiated, Jump Ship is a non-grindy space adventure for up to four players. Keepsake Games, however, emphasizes their commitment to solo play, incorporating narratively driven AI companions to assist single players. The Prologue serves as both a tutorial (covering shooting, space suit maneuvers, ship piloting, and combat) and a compelling lore introduction.

Jump Ship - Closed Beta Screenshots

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The core PvE gameplay is now enriched by a compelling narrative. A galaxy-wide virus threatens machines, and players, as Atirans, must reach the galaxy's heart to stop it. Missions unfold across procedurally generated sectors, varying in length from 10 minutes to an hour. The Jump Map uses color-coding to indicate mission difficulty, balancing risk and reward.

The non-infected AI, Iris, discovered in the Prologue, acts as a narrator, adding structure to the gameplay. The Hangar serves as a base of operations, allowing players to spend in-game currency on customization, view the Galaxy Map, and even enjoy some downtime with a soccer mini-game.

The four-player gameplay is exceptionally fun. Missions rarely proceed as planned; ship attacks require coordinated efforts: one player pilots and uses limited pilot chair weapons, another mans the 360-degree cannon, while others might use mag-boots for external repairs or combat. Unexpected damage control, like extinguishing fires with a fire extinguisher, adds to the dynamic experience. Maintaining the ship's pineapple pizza-maker is, of course, paramount!

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Once at the destination, the team disembarks, navigating the structure to secure the loot while fending off infected robots. Grappling hooks aid traversal, and teamwork is crucial for protecting the player carrying the loot back to the ship.

While my demos were short, they highlighted *Jump Ship*'s addictive nature in short bursts. The larger mission structure and procedural generation remain to be fully explored, but the potential for endless replayability is evident. *Jump Ship* possesses all the hallmarks of a potential hit, and I eagerly anticipate further playtime.