Expect
85 minutes
Redrock (35 min), Sea Wolf (30 min), and Sustainable Futures Lab (20 min). Prepare for all three.
McKinsey Solve Game 2026
The digital assessment McKinsey uses after your application, also called the Problem Solving Game or Imbellus. Expect 85 minutes with Redrock, Sea Wolf, and Sustainable Futures Lab. Practice before test day.
Redrock practice in the Solve Games Guide simulator
What is the McKinsey Solve Game?
The McKinsey Solve Game is an online assessment sent after your application is reviewed. It replaced the written Problem Solving Test in most regions. In 2026 you should expect 85 minutes with Redrock, Sea Wolf, and Sustainable Futures Lab. McKinsey scores how you work through the scenarios (pace, trade-offs, and follow-through), not only the final answer.
You will also see it called the Problem Solving Game, the digital assessment, or Imbellus. Those names all refer to this test.
How long is the McKinsey Solve Game?
Plan for 85 minutes in one sitting. That is the current format. Confirm the time on your invitation email.
Do not plan around
65 minutes
Older articles that describe a two-game, 65-minute test are outdated. The Ecosystem Building game is also phased out. You should not expect it, even if forums still mention it.
Games in the McKinsey Solve assessment
Expect all three: Redrock, Sea Wolf, and Sustainable Futures Lab. Ecosystem Building is phased out; older resources still mention it, but you should not expect it.
Redrock
35 minutesRedrock Island / Redrock Study
A four-phase case study. You read exhibits, run calculations in the on-screen calculator, and write a short recommendation. This is the module most candidates should practise hardest.
Sea Wolf
30 minutesOcean cleanup
A constraint game across three ocean sites. You pick microbes whose combined traits hit each site’s treatment targets. Time pressure and trade-offs matter more than clever maths.
Sustainable Futures Lab
20 minutesSFL
A shorter judgement module: ranking, trade-offs, and consulting-style decisions rather than optimisation. This is the third game in the current 85-minute assessment.
Where Solve sits in recruiting
Solve is an early filter. Candidates who do not clear it typically do not reach interviews. You cannot count on a retake for the same role within about a year.
-
1
Application
Resume and cover letter screening
-
2
Solve Game
Timed digital assessment (this page)
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3
First round
Case and fit interviews
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4
Final round
Partner interviews
McKinsey Solve Game FAQ
Short answers to the questions people search before they open a simulator.
What is the McKinsey Solve Game?
The McKinsey Solve Game is a timed digital assessment used after your application and before interviews. McKinsey uses it to see how you work through unfamiliar problems, not a written case-maths paper. Older names for the same assessment include the Problem Solving Game, the digital assessment, and Imbellus.
How long is the McKinsey Solve Game?
Expect 85 minutes in one sitting: Redrock (35), Sea Wolf (30), and Sustainable Futures Lab (20). Guides that still say 65 minutes describe an older two-game format. Confirm the time on your invitation email.
What games are in McKinsey Solve?
Redrock (35 minutes, case study), Sea Wolf (30 minutes, constraint optimisation), and Sustainable Futures Lab (20 minutes, situational judgement). Ecosystem Building is phased out. Older resources still mention it; you should not expect it.
Is the McKinsey Solve Game different in 2026?
The current assessment is 85 minutes with Redrock, Sea Wolf, and Sustainable Futures Lab. Sustainable Futures Lab rolled out in April 2026 and is now the third module you should prepare for. Articles that still describe a 65-minute test, or that tell you to practise Ecosystem Building, are outdated. Your invitation email confirms the time.
Is Imbellus the same as the McKinsey Solve Game?
Yes. Imbellus built the original games; McKinsey acquired the company and now brands the assessment as Solve. Search results that still say Imbellus or Problem Solving Game are referring to this test.
Can I practice the McKinsey Solve Game for free?
McKinsey does not publish a full practice version. Solve Games Guide includes one free Sea Wolf session, one Redrock case, and one Sustainable Futures Lab scenario. No credit card.
Choose Your Package
Select the package that fits your preparation needs. All packages include 2-week access.
You only get one attempt at the McKinsey Solve Games. This costs less than a single interview coaching session, and prepares you for the actual filter.
Most candidates choose this
The 3 hour prep
Three-hour prep for candidates who want one Redrock case per template, two Sustainable Futures Lab missions, and the Sea Wolf solver.
- Sea Wolf Solver
- 5 Redrock case studies
- 2 Sustainable Futures Lab Missions
- 2-week access
Redrock Cases
20+ Redrock case studies with interactive simulation interface, detailed feedback, and analytics.
- 20+ full-length Redrock case studies
- Interactive Interface
- Detailed Feedback & Analytics
- 2-week access
Seawolf Bundle
Complete Seawolf training with simulator, solver, and unlimited practice.
- Seawolf Simulator
- Seawolf Solver (Phases 3 & 4)
- 2-week access
- Unlimited Practice Sessions
Practice the McKinsey Solve Game
One free Sea Wolf session, one Redrock case, and one Sustainable Futures Lab scenario. No credit card.