DAVY x JONES – Chaotic Pirate Action in The Locker

When it comes to pirate legends, few names are as instantly recognizable as Davy Jones. But what happens when the infamous sea captain loses his head—literally—and finds himself in the twisted afterlife of The Locker? That’s the bizarre premise behind DAVY x JONES, an action-adventure that combines swashbuckling swordplay, chaotic gun battles, grappling hook acrobatics, and a surprising dose of humor. Developed and published by PARASIGHT, the game is currently in Early Access and already showing serious promise, even if it occasionally feels like an unfinished tale.

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Death Is Just the Beginning

The game opens with betrayal, beheading, and a plunge into The Locker, the pirate underworld. But instead of staying dead, you’re split in two: Jones, the headless body you control, and Davy, the stubborn, wise-cracking skull that hovers and guides you. This duality is both narrative gold and gameplay charm—the banter between skull and body injects levity into an otherwise hellish setting, while the unique concept helps distinguish the game from the usual pirate adventures.

The Locker itself is a surreal spectacle: nine floating islands adrift on an endless sea of clouds. These cursed lands are haunted by twisted souls, fiends, and legendary sea monsters. The first time you cross paths with the Kraken, it’s clear that DAVY x JONES wants to deliver big, cinematic encounters alongside its frantic first-person combat.

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Sword, Gun, Grapple, Repeat

Combat is the centerpiece of DAVY x JONES, and it wears its influences proudly. Fans of Doom Eternal, ULTRAKILL, or Shadow Warrior will recognize the frenetic pace, the fluid mix of melee and ranged combat, and the sheer chaos of fighting hordes of enemies while juggling movement abilities.

Your arsenal is small but satisfying: a cutlass for quick slashes and parries, flintlock-style pistols and cannons for ranged destruction, and a grappling hook that adds verticality and speed to fights. The grappling mechanic in particular shines, letting you zip around arenas, evade attacks, or close the gap for brutal sword finishers.

But it’s not just hacking and blasting. The fusion system adds a clever risk-reward element. When enemies drop volatile essence, they can merge into chests holding powerful loot—but opening one also summons unpredictable fiends. Do you risk unleashing another wave of chaos for better gear, or play it safe and pass? It’s moments like these that keep combat tense and unpredictable.

That said, the Early Access version shows some cracks. Enemies can feel repetitive after a while, with some players noting they fought the same “flying imp” over and over. The spectacle of big encounters works, but smaller skirmishes risk becoming monotonous without more variety.

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Abby, the Living Whale-Ship

If combat is the heart of DAVY x JONES, then Abby is its soul. Abby is no ordinary ship—she’s a living, breathing hybrid of whale and vessel who serves as your base, transport, and artillery platform. She’s as much a character as any crewmate, and upgrading her feels both rewarding and thematically brilliant.

Throughout your journey, you’ll recruit legendary officers to crew Abby, each adding new abilities like devastating cannon barrages. The bond between Jones and Abby adds depth to the story, while her role as a hub between missions gives you breathing room from the chaos.

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Dripping with Style

Visually, DAVY x JONES is a stunner. The surreal afterlife landscapes are drenched in atmosphere—crumbling pirate ruins floating above endless seas, glowing chests of cursed essence, and looming silhouettes of sea monsters on the horizon. The art direction leans into gothic nautical horror without losing the pulp-adventure flair of its premise.

The soundtrack, meanwhile, slams hard. It’s a mix of pounding, energetic tracks that echo the intensity of combat, with a salty sea-dog twist. Players have compared the vibe to a mix of Painkiller, Shadows of the Damned, and heavy-metal-inspired shooters. It fits perfectly, even if some audio bugs currently mar the experience.

Voice acting is another highlight. Davy’s wisecracks and commentary elevate the narrative, while the cast of cursed souls and legendary foes make the world feel alive—er, undead.

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Early Access Impressions

At Gamescom 2025, the game made a splash with an impressive demo—despite some hilarious chaos when an enemy T-posed mid-battle, causing the game to crash in front of the developers. That sums up the Early Access state nicely: exciting, atmospheric, but still rough around the edges.

Right now, the Early Access build includes:

• Several cursed islands from The Locker
• Core combat with sword, gun, and grappling mechanics
• Legendary weapons and cinematic finishers
• Abby as a living whale-ship hub
• A selection of fiends, bosses, and loot fusions

Future updates promise more islands, enemies, weapons, and expanded story beats, culminating in a planned 1.0 launch in late 2026. The kicker? It’s priced at launch only at $6.66, making it one of the cheapest Early Access tickets in recent memory.

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The Good, The Bad, and the Buggy

What Works:

• Brilliant concept of a headless pirate body and a wisecracking skull
• Fast, frantic combat that blends melee, guns, and grappling hooks
• Atmospheric world design with surreal, nautical horror flair
• Abby, the whale-shi,p is an inspired companion and gameplay hub
• Killer soundtrack and solid voice acting
• Fair Early Access price for the amount of content

What Needs Work:

• Performance issues, especially on lower-end PCs
• Repetitive enemy types make extended play feel stale
• Occasional crashes and audio glitches
• Combat pacing can feel stiff until controls are remapped
• Navigation can be confusing, with unclear objectives or paths
• Steam Deck “unsupported,” though some players report success on handhelds like the ROG Ally