If you’ve been researching the McKinsey Problem Solving Game (PSG), you may have noticed that information online is inconsistent. Some guides describe scenarios that are no longer used. Others don’t mention modules that are now live. This post cuts through the confusion and explains exactly what the 2026 PSG looks like — and what’s changed.
What is the McKinsey PSG?
The McKinsey Problem Solving Game (also called McKinsey Solve) is a simulation-based assessment used by McKinsey & Company during recruitment. Unlike a traditional test, it presents candidates with interactive game-like scenarios designed to measure cognitive flexibility, data processing, and decision-making under time pressure — skills that are hard to fake and hard to cram for without genuine practice.
It’s taken online, typically before or during the first round of interviews, and results carry significant weight in the hiring decision.
The 2026 PSG: Two Versions
In 2026, McKinsey is running two versions of the assessment depending on your region and role:
- 65-minute version — two scenarios
- 85-minute version — three scenarios
The extra 20 minutes in the longer version accommodates the new Sustainable Futures Lab module, which was added in March 2026 (more on that below).
The Three Live Scenarios in 2026
1. Redrock Study Task (Module 1 — 35 minutes)
Redrock is the first scenario most candidates encounter. You’re presented with a structured research report and asked to answer a series of questions based on its data. The questions are analytical — think percentage calculations, comparisons, and logical inferences drawn from tables and charts.
Redrock is the closest thing the current PSG has to the legacy McKinsey Problem Solving Test (PST). Accuracy matters here: incorrect answers may incur negative marks, so a confident, systematic approach beats guessing.
What’s changed for 2026: The core format of Redrock is stable, but the underlying data and specific question types are updated each cohort. Candidates who practise with real past PSG data consistently report that familiarity with the report structure is one of the biggest advantages going in.
2. Sea Wolf — Ocean Cleanup (Module 2 — 30 minutes)
Sea Wolf was introduced in spring 2024 and has quickly become one of the most discussed modules among candidates. In this scenario, you’re tasked with designing microbial treatment plans for three ocean cleanup sites. Each site has specific environmental characteristics, and you must select a combination of three microbes to match those conditions as closely as possible.
The twist: the scenario is played three times with different parameters, so adaptability and pattern recognition are just as important as understanding the rules on the first run.
What’s changed for 2026: Sea Wolf remains a live module. The site configurations and microbe properties change between sessions, but the underlying logic stays constant — making it highly practicable. Candidates who drill this module report it becoming significantly more intuitive after repeated practice.
3. Sustainable Futures Lab — SFL (New — March 2026)
This is the biggest change to the PSG in 2026. The Sustainable Futures Lab (SFL) is a brand-new module added to the 85-minute version of the assessment. Unlike Redrock and Sea Wolf, which are primarily cognitive and analytical, SFL is a behavioural assessment.
In SFL, you join a fictional environmental research team and make 13 sequential decisions under time pressure. The decisions are presented as real-world team situations — prioritising tasks, responding to team members, navigating trade-offs between competing goals. McKinsey uses your choices to evaluate judgement, prioritisation, and interpersonal reasoning.
What’s changed for 2026: SFL is new as of March 2026 and is currently only included in the 85-minute version. If you’re in a region or role where you receive the longer version, this is now a core part of your assessment — not optional preparation.
What About the Ecosystem Scenario?
The Ecosystem Builder scenario — where you balance environmental conditions and predator-prey relationships to maintain a sustainable ecosystem — is no longer a core module in the standard 2026 PSG. However, some candidates are still assigned it depending on their cohort and region.
If you receive the Ecosystem scenario, the key challenge is processing a large volume of data quickly and making accurate systemic decisions. It’s one of the most technically demanding modules, and one that benefits most from using a solver tool rather than manual trial and error.
What’s Been Retired
Before February 2023, McKinsey used a different set of game scenarios. These are no longer live but still appear in older guides and YouTube videos, which creates confusion for candidates preparing today:
- Plant Defense — treating plant diseases while minimising ecosystem impact
- Disease Diagnosis — identifying unknown diseases from data
- Disaster Identification — classifying natural disasters and selecting relocation sites
If your preparation material references any of these, it’s outdated. The logic and data-processing skills transfer, but the specific mechanics do not.
Key Changes at a Glance
| Change | Detail |
|---|---|
| New module | Sustainable Futures Lab (SFL) added March 2026 |
| Assessment length | Now 65 or 85 minutes depending on region/role |
| Sea Wolf | Remains live since spring 2024 |
| Redrock | Stable format, updated data each cohort |
| Ecosystem | Still assigned to some candidates — worth preparing for |
| Retired scenarios | Plant Defense, Disease Diagnosis, Disaster ID — all retired pre-2023 |
How to Prepare for the 2026 PSG
The most effective preparation approach for 2026 combines three things:
- Practice on real past data. The scenarios use consistent underlying logic, and candidates who train on authentic PSG data consistently outperform those who use generic aptitude tests. The structure of Redrock, in particular, becomes much more manageable once you’ve seen several real examples.
- Drill each module separately. Sea Wolf and Redrock require different cognitive approaches. Mixing them into a single study session is less effective than mastering one at a time before combining them under timed conditions.
- Don’t neglect SFL. Because SFL is new, many candidates underestimate it. It’s not something you can wing — McKinsey is deliberately assessing your judgement and team reasoning, not just your speed.
PSG Solver provides practice tests built from real past PSG data for all three live 2026 modules — Redrock, Sea Wolf, and SFL — as well as the Ecosystem Solver for candidates assigned that scenario. View packages and get instant access →