2026 EMPLOYER GUIDES6 min read

How to Pass the McKinsey Problem Solving Game 2026

Here is all you will learn in this guide:

  1. What is the McKinsey Solve Game?
  2. How to pass the McKinsey Problem Solving game?
  3. What is the McKinsey recruitment process?

1. What is the McKinsey Problem Solving Game?

What is the McKinsey digital assessment?

The McKinsey Solve Game (previously known as Imbellus) is a gamified assessment test that provides an opportunity to test your intuition, adaptability, and creativity in solving problems. The game-based assessment is an evaluation of your problem-solving skills and abilities through multiple interactive game-based tasks.

Good to Know: The McKinsey Problem Solving game has largely replaced the existing Problem Solving test (PST)  in McKinsey’s hiring process as it allows McKinsey to assess more cognitive competencies than the traditional test does.

Prepare for your gamified assessment test by practising ahead with us.

Practice Game-based Assessments

Practice Game-based Assessments

There are two McKinsey Problem Solving Games, and they are:

  1. Redrock Island
  2. The Sea Wolf

Good to Know: I recommend that you play the McKinsey Solve in a web browser in full-screen mode, and to  start and finish the game in one sitting.

Curious to know more about these games? Keep reading to find out!

McKinsey Redrock Island

What is the McKinsey Redrock Island game?

The McKinsey Redrock Island is the first game to play in the Solve game-based task. Here, you will conduct a study on several cases related to a research project. The data and study for this project have been acquired, and you are to investigate and analyse the data.

What does the McKinsey Redrock Island game involve?

The McKinsey Redrock Island game involves you examining the collected data for a research project where you will draw conclusions from the data in both written and visual formats. 

Want a view of the McKinsey Redrock Island game? Look below for a still image from the game.

 McKinsey redrock island game

McKinsey Redrock Island

Source: McKinsey & Company

After completing this, you will be directed to take the next McKinsey game, which is the McKinsey Sea Wolf. Continue scrolling to learn more!

McKinsey Sea Wolf

What is the McKinsey Sea Wolf game?

The McKinsey Sea Wolf is a scientific game-based assessment that requires you to create treatments from microbes to clean up the pollution in the ocean. You will be tasked with instructing the microbe database to provide the best treatment prospects.

What does the McKinsey Sea Wolf game involve?

The McKinsey Sea Wolf involves assembling a combination of microbes to create the best possible contamination treatments that are specific to each site on the ocean. 

Interested in knowing how to pass this McKinsey digital assessment? We have curated a list of tips for you below.

2. How to Pass the McKinsey Problem-Solving Game?

Passing the McKinsey Solve games can be easier when you read through my top tips, to provide you with an idea of what to do and not do when taking the McKinsey gamified assessment.

Top 5 Tips to Pass the McKinsey Solve Game

The following are tips to guide you to pass through the McKinsey Problem Solving game with ease.

  1. Check the tutorial: A tutorial is provided before you begin the McKinsey Solve game. Make sure to watch this so that you understand the rules and instructions before you begin!
  2. Be strategic: Be sure that you conduct all key analyses in the calculator which you will be provided in the course of the game, and avoid any unnecessary movements and guessing within the Solve game.
  3. Schedule your playing time: The McKinsey Problem Solving game cannot be paused or left alone after you have started. It is important that you start and complete the game in one sitting, so set out a day or time when you can play the game without distractions.
  4. Understand the scoring criteria: You should keep in mind that McKinsey will not just be recording the final outcome, but the whole process and how you come about your end result.
  5. Stay calm during the test: Panicking during the test will result in you failing the game or making several mistakes. We recommend that you take breathing exercises to calm yourself down before you begin the McKinsey digital assessment.
McKinsey game-based practice test

Upon completing the Solve game, and if you’re successful, you will then take part in the McKinsey interview rounds. Good luck!

Understanding the game-based assessment, why not take a look at the McKinsey recruitment process to see what comes next?

3. McKinsey Recruitment Process

What is the McKinsey application process?

The McKinsey hiring process contains a few application stages you’ll need to successfully pass through before being offered a job role in the global consulting firm. These stages are listed below:

  1. McKinsey Application Process
  2. McKinsey Game-Based Assessment
  3. McKinsey Interview Rounds
  4. McKinsey Experience Day

Check out the full McKinsey application process stages to know what is ahead of you in the application process.

If you have any more questions, take a look at our McKinsey digital assessment FAQs for the answers. Good luck!

4. McKinsey Problem Solving Game FAQs

1 What skills are assessed in the McKinsey Solve?

The McKinsey Solve seeks to test you on the following:

  • Critical thinking
  • Decision making
  • Metacognition
  • Situational awareness
  • Systems thinking

2 How is the McKinsey Problem Solving game scored?

The McKinsey Solve game is scored on two bases, which are your product score and your process score, so you will likely be scored in each of the individual scenarios and the process by which it took you to achieve the game’s tasks.

3 Who created the McKinsey Solve game?

The McKinsey Problem Solving game was created through a partnership with Imbellus, and the game is also sometimes called the “Imbellus” game due to McKinsey being one of the game company’s first clients.

4 Does McKinsey still use the problem solving test?

No, McKinsey has stopped using the Problem Solving test and has instead moved to the Problem Solving game to assess candidates’ skills and cognitive abilities.

Prepare for your McKinsey recruitment process with our expert-made game-based assessments used by over 150 UK universities and their students, and also across Asia and continental Europe.

Practice with peace of mind without commitment to a full 100% money-back guarantee if you do not pass your job tests.

This article was last updated on 20 February 2026. All information provided is accurate to the best of our knowledge at the time of publication, based on publicly available sources. For the most up-to-date details, please verify directly with the employer.

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