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 uniquely blending elements of Sea of Thieves, Left 4 Dead, and FTL. A recent playtest with 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—or even solo, thanks to clever AI assistants designed to support single-player experiences. The Prologue serves as both a tutorial (covering shooting, space-suit flight, 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 captivating narrative. A malicious virus has infected galactic machines, and you and your fellow 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 color-codes branching choices, indicating the level of danger and corresponding rewards.

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

The four-player gameplay is incredibly fun. Missions rarely go as planned. Expect ship attacks requiring coordinated efforts: one player pilots and uses the pilot's chair weapons, another mans the main cannon, while others might be outside the ship using mag-boots, until damage control (fire extinguishers and vents!) becomes necessary. Maintaining that crucial pineapple pizza-maker is paramount!

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Once you reach your destination, the team disembarks to navigate the structure containing the loot. Hostile robots provide constant challenges, demanding teamwork. Grappling hooks facilitate quick movement, and securing the loot requires coordinated protection for the player carrying it back to the ship.

Both my previous and recent demos were brief, highlighting *Jump Ship*'s suitability for short bursts of gameplay. However, I haven't fully explored the larger mission structure and procedural generation to assess its long-term replayability. Despite this, the potential is undeniable. *Jump Ship* possesses all the key ingredients for a remarkable game, and I eagerly anticipate further playtime.