We’ve been keenly awaiting it for a while now, but Jumplight Oddysey – the new nostalgic space captaincy sim from Melbourne’s very own League of Geeks – has finally launched into Early Access.
At its core, Jumplight Odyssey is a game about being the captain of the enormous interstellar ship, the SDF Catalina, and a captain’s work is clearly never done. We had the chance to check out the demo during the recent Steam Next Fest, and have now also spent some time (although not nearly enough as real life continues to get in the way of my space dad life) and the sheer depth of the game’s simulation of starship captaincy is seriously impressive.
Everything from your ship’s resource management, construction, manufacturing, defenses, crew roles, away missions, relationships and morale and a heap more all factor into the success of your runs within its roguelike structure, as you fend off attacks and work your way across the galaxy and toward the Forever Star. It’s all deceptively simple to grasp and control, which is great news for anyone with a quirky brain like mine that struggles to get into these management/sim style games, and it’s backed up by an effortlessly-cool, 70s disco sci-fi anime vibe that I can’t get enough of.
If that all sounds excellent (and it is), you can get stuck into Jumplight Odyssey’s Early Access release now at a discounted price of $37.35 on Steam.
Here’s the lowdown on Jumplight Odyssey’s Early Access release as shared by the team last month:
What to Expect in Jumplight Odyssey Early Access?
Work in Progress
While we feel the game is already a blast to play, there are still stacks of features and content that we plan to add over the course of Early Access and beyond. Some of this will include updates based on feedback you provided during the demo, and some of it will be fun exciting stuff. We are listening, and we do have many plans that are yet to be revealed, so please continue to let us know what you think! You can expect an outline of the features to come a little closer to launch, but it is safe to say that we’re excited for what’s to come.
Different Modes & Save Game
While the Demo only had a single, intense mode of JLO and no option to save your game, Early Access will provide new and different ways to play (and save!) your game, including three different play styles. Depending on if you want a more cozy chill time, or if the hectic pursuit of the Zutopans is more up your alley; we will have the game mode to suit your taste.
Help Us Make Our Dream Game!
You! Yes, you— the Spacefarers who embark on this journey with us — will play such a vital role in shaping the game’s future! We have a very clear vision and idea of where we are taking this game, however it is your feedback, ideas and bug reports that will ensure we stay on target in making Jumplight Odyssey the best game it can be. EA is a thrilling phase of game development – a chance to witness a game grow and evolve before your very eyes! We plan to use this period as a means to really understand how people are playing and receiving the game we’re crafting for the world, so hop into our Discord, chat on our Steam or tag us on socials! Your opinion matters a lot to us.
A Note on Game Development
Please keep in mind that while Early Access is a fantastic opportunity to jump into the action early, the game may have some rough edges, bugs, or features that aren’t fully fleshed out. Rest assured, we’re working tirelessly to make JLO the best it can be. This game will not be finished when we launch into Early Access. It will take many, many months to reach that point, and we ask for your patience, support, and cooperation in helping us reach that goal.
