Jump Space is an early access spaceship crew game that emphasizes detailed ship interiors and boarding mechanics, combining ship management, combat, and cooperative multiplayer for a fresh take on space sims. While currently limited in content and difficulty, it offers smooth gameplay, solid performance, and promising potential for future updates that could enhance depth and replayability.
Jump Space, formerly known as Jump Ship, is an early access spaceship crew game that combines ship management, upgrading, and combat with a unique focus on internal ship mechanics and boarding actions. Drawing inspiration from games like Void Crew and Wildgate, players take on the roles of kidnapped crew members embarking on missions aboard their own ship. The gameplay loop involves selecting missions on a galaxy map, upgrading ships, and engaging in various activities such as piloting, shooting, and manually fighting enemies both inside and outside the ship. While co-op play is encouraged, the game can be enjoyed solo as well.
The game’s standout feature is its detailed ship interiors and boarding mechanics. Players can board enemy vessels using grappling hooks and magnetic boots, engaging in intense close-quarters combat to disable ships from within. This aspect adds a fresh layer of immersion and strategy rarely seen in the space sim genre. The game also includes defending your own ship from enemy boarders, creating dynamic moments of chaos and teamwork. These mechanics highlight the evolving nature of space sims, emphasizing not just piloting but also internal ship operations and EVA (extravehicular activity).
Jump Space offers a relatively casual experience compared to traditional space sims, with simplified flight physics and forgiving mechanics like non-regenerating shields that require manual repairs. The on-foot combat is competent with smooth controls, though it doesn’t aim to compete with high-end tactical shooters. Despite being in early access, the game impresses with solid performance, running smoothly at high settings without heavy reliance on advanced upscaling technologies. Visually, the game is appealing, featuring six degrees of freedom and a clean, functional design, even if some models and assets are still placeholders.
However, the early access nature of Jump Space is evident in its limited content and repetitive missions. Loot variety is minimal, and the difficulty balance leans toward being too easy, which may affect long-term engagement. The developer, Keepsake Games, has outlined a roadmap for the game’s future, promising new modes, weapons, and ships to enhance depth and replayability. While the game currently feels more like a casual space adventure than a hardcore sim, there is clear potential for growth and refinement as development continues.
Overall, Jump Space is an exciting and innovative entry in the space sim genre, particularly for its focus on ship interiors and boarding mechanics. It successfully blends cooperative multiplayer with engaging gameplay loops and a fresh take on spaceship combat. Though it has room to grow in content and complexity, it already stands out as a promising title that could redefine how space crew games are played. Fans of the genre and newcomers alike have reason to be optimistic about its future development and eventual full release.