McKinsey Solve Game 2027: Format, Games & How to Prepare
The McKinsey Solve Game is a digital assessment McKinsey uses to screen candidates before first-round interviews. In the 2027 intake, most applicants play two games — typically Red Rock Study, Sea Wolf, or the newest Sustainable Futures Lab — in about 60–70 minutes.
What the McKinsey Solve Game Is
Solve replaced McKinsey's old Problem Solving Test (PST). Instead of a paper test, you play video-game-style simulations on your computer — no webcam, no interviewer. Each game drops you into a realistic management scenario where you allocate resources, analyze data, and make trade-offs under time pressure.
For the 2027 intake, McKinsey assigns two games per candidate. The most common pairing is Red Rock Study (ecosystem management) plus Sea Wolf (naval defense strategy). Some regions now assign Sustainable Futures Lab instead.
What the McKinsey Solve Game Tests
Don't be fooled by the playful graphics. The McKinsey Solve Game measures exactly what consulting demands:
- Structured problem solving — breaking messy scenarios into analyzable pieces
- Critical thinking under pressure — prioritizing when data is incomplete
- Numerical reasoning — reading charts, comparing scenarios, spotting patterns
- Decision-making with trade-offs — every good choice costs you something
There is no single "right" strategy per game. McKinsey scores your decision process — how you gather information, weigh options, and adapt when conditions change.
How to Prepare for the McKinsey Solve Game
This is not a test you can wing. The game mechanics are unfamiliar, the timer is unforgiving, and most candidates lose points on preventable mistakes — misreading a dashboard, over-investing in one species, or ignoring the scoring rules until it's too late.
The highest-ROI prep is rehearsing the actual games. Our 2027 McKinsey Solve Game, RedRock, Sea Wolf, Sustainable Futures Lab, Case Interview Interactive Simulations includes interactive simulations of Red Rock, Sea Wolf, Sustainable Futures Lab, and the rest of the Solve portfolio, plus exact question walkthroughs — so you learn the scoring logic before the real thing.
McKinsey Solve Game: Fail Here and the Door Slams Shut
McKinsey is explicit: Solve is a screen. Fail it and you don't get a case interview — your application dies at the digital stage, and you'll wait a full cycle to try again. Every serious candidate in the 2027 intake is practicing these games right now. Walk in cold and you're donating your application.
FAQ
How long is the McKinsey Solve Game? About 60–70 minutes total across two games, taken online in one sitting. Check your McKinsey invitation email for the exact setup for the 2027 intake.
Can I retake the Solve Game if I fail? Generally no within the same recruiting cycle. A fail typically means waiting until the next intake year to reapply — confirm the policy on McKinsey's official careers page.
Is the Solve Game the same in every country? The game portfolio is global, but which two games you're assigned can vary by region. Red Rock Study and Sea Wolf remain the most common pair.
Do I need to install anything to play? No. The McKinsey Solve Game runs in a browser. Use a stable connection and a quiet room — the timer doesn't pause.
Preparing for McKinsey's Solve Game? Our 2027 McKinsey Solve Game, RedRock, Sea Wolf, Sustainable Futures Lab, Case Interview Interactive Simulations has the exact questions and answers — $79 one-time, instant download.
