McKinsey Sea Wolf Game (2025)
How to Pass the McKinsey Ocean Treatment Game
Everything you need to know about the McKinsey Microbe Game (McKinsey Ocean Cleanup)
Contents
Confused about the new McKinsey Sea Wolf Game?
I feel you.
The game was used in 2024 for the first time (and then updated in January 2025), and there is very little (accurate) information about it online.
You might already know you have to select microbes to cleanse the ocean in this game (well, it is also commonly called “McKinsey Ocean Cleanup game”, so that’s sort of obvious 😅).
But what exactly should you do to get a great score?
Well, that’s exactly why I wrote this article.
With this blog post, you’ll get clear instructions on how to prep effectively for the McKinsey Microbe game.
Think of it as your personal coach to learn everything about the game, with step-by-step strategies tailored to the new game.
Ready to learn everything you need to master the Ocean Cleanup game? Then let’s start!
Do you want to play the McKinsey Ocean Cleanup Game in advance?
Have a look at the McKinsey PSG video simulation I created, now with the optional full simulations to play the McKinsey Sea Wolf, Ecosystem and Redrock Study games!
And as proof that it works, you will get a 60-day, 100% money-back guarantee. This is the ONLY simulation in the market offering such a guarantee.
What is the McKinsey Sea Wolf game?
The McKinsey Sea Wolf game, also called McKinsey Ocean Cleanup, McKinsey Ocean Treatment or McKinsey Microbe game, is a new test McKinsey launched in 2024, and it is part of the McKinsey Solve game assessment.
(The other games currently used during the Imbellus game are the McKinsey Ecosystem game and the McKinsey Redrock game. If you want to learn more about these games, you can check my McKinsey Solve Game guide here).
In this game, you will have to cleanse the Ocean, by selecting a range of Microbes for different sites. Your performance will be graded according to the site criteria, and you will receive a penalty of 20% for each conditions and trait parameter that you do not meet in the final selection.
The game has a timer of 35 minutes (20 minutes in the old version), and as breaks are allowed, it might take around 30 minutes total. If your email mentions to allocate 110 minutes, you will have to take this game. However, based on what I’ve seen from my candidates, it could also be required even if they mention just 70 minutes, so I’d recommend being prepared just in case.
In the current game setting, you will have the Ecosystem and Redrock games first, and then the McKinsey Solve Ocean Cleanup game.
If you made a search online, you have probably struggled to find information about this new game. Plus, when any information is present, it’s often contradictory.
But since I offer the only video simulation on the market with 300+ 5-star reviews and 100% money back guarantee, I have collected enough information to provide you with an accurate overview about this game.
In this article, I will cover for you:
- The real components of the McKinsey Solve Sea Wolf game
- What is tested in the McKinsey Ocean Treatment game, and how to maximize your score in each of the steps
- What to do to prepare in advance for the game
- The most common questions asked for the lastest version of the McKinsey Ocean Cleanup game
Ready to start?
Then let’s dive in!
P.S. Do you prefer to watch step-by-step instructions on how to face all the McKinsey games? You can have a look at my video course below, including the best Excel Solvers and lastest tips and tricks for all games as of February 2025.
McKinsey Ocean Cleanup Game - Which Are Your Tasks?
The Ocean Treatment Game McKinsey launched in 2024 is structured with 2 different sites, and your goal is to cleanse the Ocean at both sites by using microbes.
(Note: since January 2025, McKinsey is using 3 sites in 35 minutes instead of 2 sites in 20 minutes. When you have the additional site, the logic to use is exactly the same. For this article, I will consider the original version with 2 sites for the explanation. For the extra site, you can simply repeat what indicated for Site #2).
The final goal of each site is to select the 3 microbes that will be used to cleanse the ocean.
In order to find the 3 microbes, you will have to go through up to 5 steps, and you will have to repeat the process for both sites. The steps are the following:
- First of all, you will have to pick 2 characteristics, from a possible total of 7, to help you with the final selection.
- Secondly, you will have to categorize 10 microbes that will be provided to you.
- Thirdly, you will have to chose 4 microbes out of a total of 12 available ones.
- Next, you will have to find the 3 final microbes that you should consider for the site.
- [Just for Site 2] You will have to confirm if a group of Microbes should be allocated to Site 2 or not.
Phew! That’s quite a bit of stuff to do in just 20 minutes (35 minutes in the new version – but that’s still around 10 minutes per site, as you have 3 sites there)!
Basically you will have to repeat steps 1 to 4 twice (once for each of the two sites), while step 5 will be required only for Site 2. In total, that’s around 2 minutes for each step.
Don’t worry, we will now analyze each step, so that you can understand what the Ocean Cleanup Game involves, learn the best way to tackle each part and save time during your game.
McKinsey Ocean Treatment Step #1 - Selecting the Characteristics
When you start the Ocean Treatment game, the first task that you will have is to pick 2 characteristics out of a range of 7 possible ones.
The 7 characteristics are divided into 3 attributes and 4 traits. You can see an example of them in the picture below (source: my guide):
As you can see, you also have some information on the right-hand side about the Site you are currently considering (have a look at the picture below).
You can see the attributes of the Site displayed with a range (for example, 4-6 for Rigidity).
On the other hand, the Site information will only show the optimal and suboptimal traits (not all four).
As indicated in the picture above, in this example Site 1 includes 4-6 for Rigidity, 6-8 for Mobility, and 2-4 for Size, with the trait of Heat Resistance as optimal and Hydrophilic as suboptimal.
Your goal is to match the site information when selecting the characteristics on the left-hand side. The issue is, you can select only 2 of them. In my course, I will show you how to find the right ones in just a few seconds.
After that, you can move to the following step and start to categorize the microbes.
McKinsey Ocean Treatment Step #2 - Categorizing the 10 Microbes
In the second step, you will have to categorize a total of 10 microbes.
When you start in Site 1, you will have the option to categorize the microbe into Site 1, Site 2, or reject the microbe. Then, when you move to Site 2, you will have the option to select Site 2 or reject. The picture below shows an example of the situation in Site 1 (source: my guide):
On the right-hand side, you will see the information of both sites that will help you to make a decision. Ideally, you want to chose the option that matches the most the characteristics of the microbe.
In my course, I will show you how to allocate the microbes in the minimum possible amount of time and in the best possible way, so that you have more time to complete the test and improve your score.
Once done, you can move to the next step, where you will have to pick 4 microbes for your site selection.
McKinsey Ocean Treatment Step #3 - Choosing the 4 Microbes
In the third step of the game, you will be asked to pick 1 microbe out of 3 possible options, for a total of 4 times. Therefore, you will have to select 4 microbes overall.
You can see an example in the picture below (source: my guide):
You will also see some microbes preselected, which you can ignore at this stage.
Once again, you will have to select the microbes that best fit the conditions of the site (in my course, you will have the chance to practice this multiple times, so that you can prepare in advance for the actual game).
Once you have selected the 4 microbes, you will move to the final selection of the 3 microbes for the ocean treatment.
McKinsey Ocean Treatment Step #4 - Selecting the 3 Final Microbes
We are almost at the end! In this step, you will have to select the 3 microbes needed for the Ocean Treatment. Below you can see an example of what you will see in the game (source: my course):
This is probably the step that will require more time.
The rule to follow to find your 3 microbes is the following: the average attributes of your chosen microbe should be within the range of the attributes of the site. Additionally, you should not have suboptimal traits in your selection.
Given that this step requires quite a few calculations, an Excel solver comes in very handy. For this reason, I have created one exactly to help with this step. With the excel solver, you should be able to complete this step in around 2 minutes.
You can see it in action below. The Excel solver template is available for FREE with my course here.
Once done, you can move to the final step, which needs to be completed only once.
McKinsey Ocean Treatment Step #5 - Confirmation of the Microbes
Wait, if we have already selected the 3 microbes, why is there a 5th step?
Good question!
If you remember, in Step 2 we allocated the microbes to either Site 1, Site 2, or rejected them. In this last step, you will have to confirm if the allocation for Step 2 was actually correct.
This last step is very similar to Step 2, you can see an example below (source: my course):
Unlike in Step 2, you will now see all the information for Site 2, so you can make a more informed decision.
Once this step is completed, you will have to repeat the whole process again for Site 2 (Steps #1 to #4).
If the whole process sounds challenging, I totally understand! With just 2 minutes per step, it won’t be easy to complete this on time.
For this very reason, I included a free PDF simulation of the McKinsey Ocean Treatment game in my McKinsey Solve Combo for you to practice. Plus, if you want, you can add a real simulation to play the game at the checkout here.
Do you want to be ready for the new Ocean Treatment game?
Have a look at my McKinsey Problem Solving Game video simulation, where I go through each step, share the strategies to beat the Ocean Cleanup game, and provide a free Excel Solver to immediately find the 3 best microbes.
There is also an optional full playable simulation of the game available as an add-on if you want to bring your prep to the next level by practicing on the game before test day.
Furthermore, this is the ONLY simulation on the market with a 60-day, 100% money-back guarantee!
How should I prepare for the McKinsey Sea Wolf Game?
Looking for tips for the new McKinsey game? I have prepared a list for you with the most important things to remember. Here it is!
Tip #1: Leverage Excel during the game
In Step #4 of the game, you will have a lot of parameters to check (10 microbes with 5 characteristics for each = 50 data points in total). If you use an Excel file for it, your life will be much easier.
If you want to save time and immediately get a top-notch Excel Solver, you will find one already available for FREE with my course here. In the course, I will show every step needed to benefit from it.
Tip #2: Allocate 10 minutes to each site
You will have 20 minutes in total to complete the game. Given that you have 2 sites, you will have to dedicate 10 minute per site. This means you will need to move on if you feel you are stuck.
This might be daunting, but if you follow the video solution in my course, you will see how you can easily complete everything in just 15 minutes, if you leverage my Excel Solver for Ocean Treatment. You will also see the recommended time to spend for each step.
Tip #3: Use the break between Site 1 and Site 2
Surprise, surprise! You will have an untimed break between Site 1 and Site 2. Guess what? You can use it to have a moment to relax before continuing.
Note: Make sure that the timer says “Time paused” or “Untimed” before taking the break, to avoid bad surprises. If you get a popup during the game it does NOT guarantee that there is a pause with the timer.
Why is that needed? Remember that Ocean Treatment is currently the third game of the test. This means you have already spent around 80 minutes with tough calculations and high pressure. If you relax for a few minutes before the last part, you will most likely perform better.
McKinsey Problem Solving Game Practice
If you want to practice more, I have created for you the first and only video simulation with 300+ 5-star reviews.
(You can check the reviews on PrepLounge and on Trustpilot).
In the video simulation, I will show you everything you need to know to prepare for the McKinsey Ocean Cleanup game and be ready for the big day.
You will get a detailed explanation of every part of the McKinsey Microbe game, so that you can be perfectly prepared for the test.
The best part? You will have a 100% money-back guarantee if you don’t pass the test, but only if you purchase via this link (please note that I cannot offer the guarantee if you buy from any other website apart from psgsecrets.com).
I have also created a full simulation of the Ocean Treatment Game!
You will be able to play the game in advance for 2 sites with lifetime access (all 5 steps).
Here is a sneak peak from the simulation:
You can add the simulation to your cart during checkout here.
McKinsey PSG Ocean Cleanup FAQs
Need more help? Don’t worry, I have compiled for you some of the most common questions about the game below. Let’s get started!
Click on the tabs below to read more:
Why did McKinsey introduce the Ocean Treatment Game?
McKinsey regularly updates the McKinsey Solve game with new games. In 2023, for example, they introduced the Redrock Study game.
Most likely, the key reason they change the games is to prevent candidates from becoming too familiar with a particular game.
How common is the Ocean Treatment game in the Solve Assessment?
At the moment, based on the data of the candidates I help, the McKinsey Ocean Cleanup game appears around 20% of the time. As it is unclear whether they are using it for evaluation or not, I would recommend being fully prepared for it, just in case.
Which are the common mistakes in the Ocean Cleanup game in the Imbellus?
The most common mistakes based on the feedback of my candidates are:
- Skipping the instructions of the game during the tutorial (well, now you already know most of what they will explain from this article, but it is still a good idea to review it anyways).
- Allocating too much time to the 1st Site. You want to ensure 10 minutes per site to complete the game successfully.
- Not leveraging the breaks during the game. You will have sections during the Ocean Cleanup where time will stop, and you can take advantage of them.
What is the best way to prepare for the McKinsey PSG Cleanup game?
As a first step, I would recommend to study in detail this blog post and the screenshots, and follow the advice and strategies reported here. You might also want to build an Excel Solver in advance (or leverage the one I offer for free with my course here).
If you want to practice more, I include a free PDF simulation of the McKinsey Ocean Cleanup game in my course. I have also created the first McKinsey Ocean Treatment simulation in the market for you to play the game in advance; you can add it at checkout here.
I read about different names as "McKinsey Ocean Treatment", "McKinsey Ocean Cleanup", "McKinsey Microbe Game", "McKinsey Problem Solving Game Microbe Test". Are they all the same game?
Yes, they all refer to the new game, the McKinsey Ocean Treatment game.
Will the Ecosystem game and Redrock Study still be part of the assessment?
Yes. You will have to play the Ocean Treatment game after the Ecosystem and Red Rock tests.
Other mini-games like the Plant Defense game, Disease Management, and Disaster Management are no longer used in the McKinsey PST. You can find more details in my free Solve game guide.
Where can I find more information on the other games of the McKinsey Solve game?
You can find a free guide detailing all the games at this link.
Are you ready to play the McKinsey Solve Game?
I hope you are now well-equipped with a good overview and the right strategies to pass the game and get a McKinsey interview.
If you want to go the extra mile with your preparation, have a look at my full video simulation, which comes with $200+ in bonus materials, including a 157-page PDF guide, 3 Excel solvers including an algorithm to build the ecosystem chain, and a 62-page industry cheat sheet for your consulting case preparation as well.
Plus, now you can also play the Ecosystem, Redrock, and Sea Wolf games if you want! I have created for you a complete simulation of all games with unlimited usage which you can add to the Combo 😉
Ah yes, and you will also get a 100% money-back guarantee if you don’t pass within 60 days. Just send me the rejection email of the test and I will refund the course.
The only reason I can offer this is that I know the course works and you will pass the McKinsey Digital Assessment and move to the case interview stage.
Right now, I have an 89% success rate (if you come across comparable claims: ask them why they don’t offer a full guarantee ;)).
Click here to access the course immediately and join the hundreds of successful candidates I have helped and who got offers from McKinsey.
Any questions? Drop me a message in the chat at the bottom-right and I will reply within 12 hours.
Master the McKinsey Game
I have designed the ULTIMATE guide to pass the McKinsey Digital Assessment. With this, you will learn EVERYTHING you need to MASTER the McKinsey Problem Solving Game!
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Founder of PSG Secrets, entrepreneur, case interview coach
Founder of PSG Secrets, entrepreneur, case interview coach
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