Short answer
The most useful McKinsey Solve prep practices the current games, Redrock, Sea Wolf and the Sustainable Futures Lab, under a clock. McKinsey's own tutorials and free walkthroughs explain the rules but give little timed practice. Coaching helps only if the coach knows the current version. Start free, then add timed game-style practice if you need it.
Key takeaways
- Generic case interview prep does not cover Solve; you need practice on the current game formats.
- Good prep tools cover Redrock and Sea Wolf, run on a clock and date their format information.
- McKinsey says no preparation is needed; the case for practicing is saving timed minutes on the interface.
In this article
Part ofConsulting Online Assessments: Which Test Will McKinsey, BCG or Bain Send You?
McKinsey Solve is a set of games, not a case interview, so most "McKinsey prep" does not prepare you for it. This guide compares the kinds of Solve preparation available, what each is good for, and where DrillCase fits. DrillCase sells Solve-style practice, so we say where free options are enough.
What good Solve preparation covers
| Criterion | Why it matters |
|---|---|
| The current games | Candidates report Redrock and Sea Wolf on 65-minute invitations and the Sustainable Futures Lab on 85-minute ones. Material built around the Ecosystem game or Plant Defense is out of date |
| Timed practice | Each game runs on its own clock after an untimed tutorial. Untimed practice builds false confidence |
| The math | Percentages, ratios and averages, done quickly and cleanly by hand |
| Honest rules | McKinsey forbids outside calculators, apps, websites, AI tools and prepared notes during the test |
The options compared
| Option | What it gives you | Limits | Cost |
|---|---|---|---|
| McKinsey's own tutorials and FAQ | The official rules; each game opens with an untimed tutorial | Only seen on test day | Free |
| Free walkthroughs and guides | An explanation of each game's mechanics | Watching is not practicing; check the date | Free |
| Game-style practice platforms | Timed repetitions of Redrock, Sea Wolf and Lab-style tasks | Nobody outside McKinsey can reproduce the games exactly | Varies |
| Case interview prep | Structuring and live case skills | Does not cover Solve's games | Varies |
| Private coaching | Personal feedback | Only useful if the coach knows the current games | About $200 an hour (Road to Offer's comparison) |
Where DrillCase fits
DrillCase's McKinsey Solve-style practice has 21 current scenarios: 10 Redrock-style studies, 10 Sustainable Futures Lab-style sets and a Sea Wolf-style game played as unlimited generated runs, plus an archive of 2 Ecosystem games. Sessions are timed and start with a tutorial. One scenario is free to try. It is practice material, not McKinsey's games.
| Plan | Price | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Solve Basic | $99 | One-time purchase, final sale |
| Solve VIP | $159 | Lifetime access, 7-day money-back |
| All-Access Pass | $250 | Every DrillCase firm product, lifetime, 7-day money-back |
Our recommendation
- Start free. Read the McKinsey Solve guide, learn each game's rules, and use the free chart and math drills for the arithmetic.
- Practice the current games on a clock. Use a free demo scenario first; add paid practice only if you want more timed repetitions.
- Use coaching selectively. One or two sessions can help, but ask the coach about Redrock, Sea Wolf and the Sustainable Futures Lab before you book.
- On the day, use only the game's own tools. See calculator rules.
The format has changed several times; our Solve change log tracks it with sources.
Frequently asked questions
Can you actually practice for McKinsey Solve?
McKinsey says no preparation is needed and that each game opens with a tutorial. That is true in the sense that no outside knowledge is required. The case for practicing is time. Every timed minute spent working out an interface or re-reading a rule is a minute not spent solving. Practice the rules, percentage and averaging math, and one or two timed runs before test day.
What is the difference between McKinsey Solve prep and case interview prep?
Solve is a set of games, not a case interview. Redrock is a research-and-calculation study, Sea Wolf asks you to choose microbes that meet a site's conditions, and the Sustainable Futures Lab asks scenario questions about priorities and trade-offs. Case interview prep teaches you to structure a live conversation. You need both, but Solve comes first.
How much does McKinsey Solve prep cost?
From nothing to hourly coaching fees. McKinsey's tutorials, free walkthroughs and free demo scenarios cost nothing. DrillCase's McKinsey Solve-style practice starts at $99 (Basic) or $159 (VIP, lifetime, with a 7-day refund), and the $250 All-Access Pass covers every firm product. Coaching is priced by the hour; Road to Offer quotes about $200 an hour for a coach.
Is McKinsey Solve the same as the Problem Solving Game?
Yes, the name changed from the Problem Solving Game to Solve around 2022, but the games inside have changed too. Redrock replaced Plant Defense in 2023, Sea Wolf arrived in 2024 and the Ecosystem game has been phased out in most locations. Older material using the PSG name often describes games you will not see.
FreePick your test
Your invitation already names your test. Prepare for that one.
McKinsey, BCG and Bain each screen with a different test on a different clock. Practice for the wrong format and test day is the first time you see the real one. Open the free check for yours: it reads what your invitation says, then sends a plan to your date if you want one.
- If it saysMcKinsey SolveYour invitation's length tells you which games you'll play and on what clock.Decode my Solve invite
- If it saysBCG CaseyCasey or the CCA: see which test BCG named and how its clock runs.Decode my BCG invite
- If it saysBain online testSova or TestGorilla: the clock, the sittings, and whether you can go back.Check my Bain platform
Practice what you just read
Applying to more than one firm? Practice all three formats
Each firm tests something different, so each needs its own practice. DrillCase has a simulator per format and a free case library for the skills they share.
- simulations across 3 firms
- 75
- practice questions
- 1,333
- free library cases
- 63
- 29 BCG Casey-style cases, 21 McKinsey Solve-style scenarios, 476 Bain-style questions
- 63 free library cases and 582 drill questions (math, charts, market sizing)
- The All-Access Pass unlocks every firm product for one payment; the top tier of each bought separately comes to $457
The All-Access Pass ($250) carries a 7-day money-back guarantee. Refund policy. DrillCase is independent practice material and is not affiliated with McKinsey, BCG or Bain.
Sources
- McKinsey & Company: Interviewing at McKinsey (Solve section)
- McKinsey & Company: Solve FAQs, September 2026 (PDF)
- McKinsey & Company: Assessment integrity expectations
- PrepLounge forum: What games are in the current version of McKinsey's PSG? (April 2023)
- Prepmatter: What's new in McKinsey Solve (November 2025)
- StrategyCase: McKinsey Solve guide
- Road to Offer: coach price comparison (checked 23 Sept 2026)