McKinsey Sea Wolf Game
Complete Guide & Strategy for the Ocean Cleanup Game
Sea Wolf is a 30-minute logic and optimisation challenge where speed and accuracy must be balanced differently across phases. Move quickly through the early stages to reserve time for the decisions that directly determine your score.
Contents
What is the Sea Wolf Game
Sea Wolf is a constraint-satisfaction game within the McKinsey Solve assessment. Candidates work through three contaminated ocean sites, selecting microbe combinations to meet each site's specific requirements within a 30-minute window.
Game Structure
Each microbe has one trait and three numerical attributes (values ranging from 1 to 10). Each site specifies target ranges for the three attributes, plus one trait that's beneficial (desired) and one that's harmful (undesired).
The objective at each site is to select exactly three microbes whose combined attribute averages fall within the required ranges, while including at least one microbe with the desired trait and avoiding all microbes with the undesired trait.
The Four Phases
Each site progresses through four phases:
- Profiling: Select two characteristics to prioritise. This signals reasoning but doesn't affect which microbes appear later.
- Categorising: Sort ten microbes into buckets—keep for current site, save for next site, or reject. Partial information about the next site is provided.
- Prospecting: Build a pool of ten microbes by starting with six and selecting four more through successive choices.
- Treatment: Choose three microbes from the pool and submit the final selection.
Scoring Breakdown
Each site starts at 100% effectiveness. Points are deducted for constraint violations:
- −20% for each attribute average outside its target range (up to three attributes)
- −20% if no microbe has the desired trait
- −20% if any microbe has the undesired trait
Worked example:
Site requires: Attribute 1 in range 3–5, Attribute 2 in range 5–7, Attribute 3 in range 2–4. Desired trait: Adaptive. Undesired trait: Volatile.
Selected microbes: A (3, 6, 2, Stable), B (5, 7, 5, Adaptive), C (4, 5, 2, Stable)
Averages: 4.0 (in range), 6.0 (in range), 3.0 (in range). Adaptive trait present, no Volatile trait. Score: 100%
Sea Wolf Strategy
Time management is the central challenge. The Prospecting and Treatment phases directly determine your score, so reserve the majority of your time for these. Move through Profiling and Categorising efficiently to create that buffer.
Profiling Phase
This phase should take under 30 seconds. Since it doesn't influence subsequent microbes, the goal is simply to demonstrate logical prioritisation.
A reasonable approach: identify one attribute with an extreme target range (very low or very high numbers are harder to hit) and one trait to prioritise. Don't deliberate—make a decision and proceed.
Categorising Phase
This is where time can be saved or wasted. Looking back and forth between microbe cards and site requirements consumes valuable seconds.
Recommended approach: spend 15–20 seconds memorising the key constraints before starting. Target ranges typically span two values, so memorise the lower bound and mentally add two. Note the desired and undesired traits, plus any hint about the next site.
Then apply a simple decision rule:
- Microbe matches two or more current-site criteria → Keep for current site
- Microbe matches one current-site criterion plus the next-site hint → Save for next site
- Microbe has the undesired trait or matches fewer than two criteria → Reject
Prospecting Phase
This phase builds the pool used in Treatment. Two approaches exist:
Detailed optimisation: Carefully calculate optimal combinations during selection. Theoretically ideal but typically too time-consuming.
Rough filtering (recommended): Quickly assess which microbes look promising based on attribute values and traits. Prioritise avoiding undesired traits and ensuring at least one desired trait is available. Accept that the pool won't be perfect—the Treatment phase allows final optimisation.
Treatment Phase
This is where the score is determined. Invest the time saved from earlier phases here.
Calculation Shortcut
Instead of averaging three values and comparing to the range, multiply the range bounds by three and compare against the sum. This eliminates division.
Example: Target range 3–5 becomes 9–15 when multiplied by 3. If three microbes have values 7, 4, and 5, their sum is 16—outside the 9–15 window, so this combination fails for that attribute.
Trait trade-offs: When forced to choose between hitting an attribute range or avoiding the undesired trait, typically favour avoiding the trait. The 20% penalty for including an undesired trait usually outweighs the 20% gain from bringing one additional attribute into range—especially since multiple attributes might be affected.
Sea Wolf Best Preparation
Understand the Format
Before attempting practice, ensure the game structure is clear. Understanding how the phases connect and what each one tests helps focus effort appropriately. A brief orientation is valuable; extensive passive research offers diminishing returns.
Practice Under Realistic Conditions
Time pressure is the defining characteristic of Sea Wolf. Many candidates underestimate it until they experience a realistic simulation. Practice reveals where time is being lost—often in Categorising—and allows strategy refinement before the actual assessment.
Use a Solver for Learning
A calculation tool that identifies valid microbe combinations accelerates learning. Rather than manually computing averages during practice, a solver shows which combinations work instantly. This helps internalise what "good" combinations look like, building intuition that transfers to the real assessment.
Practice with Our Sea Wolf Tools
Sea Wolf Simulator
Work through complete Sea Wolf scenarios with realistic timing, interface elements, and performance feedback. Experience all four phases as they appear in the actual assessment.
Try the Simulator for FreeSea Wolf Solver
Identify valid microbe combinations instantly. The solver calculates averages and checks constraints, eliminating manual arithmetic and helping develop intuition for what combinations work.
Learn About the SolverRelated: Redrock Guide
The McKinsey Solve assessment often includes multiple games. Redrock (Red Rock Study) tests different skills through a data-focused case study format. Preparing for both game types provides comprehensive coverage.
Read the Redrock Strategy Guide →Choose Your Package
Select the package that fits your preparation needs. All packages include 6 months 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.
Solver Only
6 Months Access
Perfect for learning the scoring logic and understanding optimal microbe combinations.
- Seawolf Solver (Phases 3 & 4)
- 6 Months Access
- Unlimited Calculations
Seawolf Bundle
6 Months Access
Complete Seawolf training with simulator, solver, and unlimited practice.
- Seawolf Simulator
- Seawolf Solver (Phases 3 & 4)
- 6 Months Access
- Unlimited Practice Sessions
Redrock Cases
6 Months Access
10 full case studies with interactive simulation interface, detailed feedback, and analytics.
- 10 Full Case Studies
- Interactive Interface
- Detailed Feedback & Analytics
- 6 Months Access
*Paid plans include a refund policy — if you're not satisfied, contact us within the stated period and we'll work with you to make it right.*
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