Jump Ship: Polished Pirate Survival Shooter

One year ago at the Game Developers Conference, I first encountered Jump Ship, a four-player sci-fi PvE shooter ingeniously blending mechanics from 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 of releases. Heading towards an Early Access launch 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. However, Keepsake Games confirmed they're incorporating a clever solo mode, addressing player feedback. Solo players will be aided by narratively driven AI assistants, allowing for a fulfilling single-player experience. The Prologue serves as both tutorial and lore-builder, introducing core gameplay: shooting, space-suit maneuvering, piloting, and ship combat.

Jump Ship - Closed Beta Screenshots

12 Images

The core PvE gameplay is now enriched by a compelling narrative. A galaxy-spanning virus threatens machines, and players, as Atirans, must journey to the galaxy's heart to stop it. Missions unfold across 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 level of risk and reward.

Aiding players is Iris, a non-infected AI discovered in the Prologue, acting as a mission narrator. This, along with the Hangar (the central hub for customizing outfits, viewing the galaxy map, and even playing soccer!), adds welcome structure to the gameplay.

The four-player gameplay is incredibly fun. Missions rarely go as planned. Expect ship attacks requiring coordinated efforts: piloting, weapon operation, hull repairs (even extinguishing fires to keep that vital pineapple pizza-maker functioning!). Teamwork is crucial, both in space combat and during on-foot missions within infected structures, utilizing grappling hooks for efficient traversal. Protecting the player retrieving the loot adds another layer of strategic challenge.

Jump ShipKeepsake GamesQ3 2025 Wishlist

While my demos were short, showcasing Jump Ship's suitability for shorter play sessions, I'm eager to see more of the larger mission structure and procedural generation to fully assess its replayability. However, the potential is undeniable. Jump Ship possesses all the key ingredients for a truly special game, and I eagerly anticipate playing more.