Schedule mock interviews on the Meeting Board, join the latest community discussions in our Consulting Q&A and find like-minded Interview Partners to connect and practice with!
Back to overview

McKinsey Ecosystem Solve game strategy

Hey everyone,

I’m preparing for the McKinsey Environment Solve Game and have gone through multiple posts here as well as a few YouTube tutorials. I’m still a bit unsure about the best starting approach and was hoping to hear from people who’ve actually played it.

My main question:

Do you find it more effective to

1. First choose the terrain/location (e.g., mountain, reef, etc.) and then select producers and animals that fit well with it,

or

2. First design a strong food chain (producers → herbivores → carnivores) for maximum sustainability, and only afterwards decide on the best terrain to match it?

I can see the logic for both:

• Starting with the terrain might help narrow the options and ensure compatibility.

• Starting with the food chain might let you optimise calorie flow and survival rates first.
 

If you’ve done the game: what worked better for you in practice? Any pitfalls to avoid in the first few steps?

Thanks!

2
< 100
0
Be the first to answer!
Nobody has responded to this question yet.
Top answer
Julia
Coach
on Aug 09, 2025
30% OFF 1st Session in August | Ex-McKinsey Engagement Manager in US and Europe | 3 years+ interviewer | Columbia MBA

Hello Frederic!! 

It really depends on how you process information under time pressure because the game moves quickly (more than you think!!), so it helps to play to your “natural” style:

  • Terrain-first → more of a top-down (deductive) approach: you start with the big picture (location) and then fill in the details. This is great if you’re decisive and comfortable committing early with partial information
  • Food-chain-first → more of a bottom-up (inductive) approach: you start with the specifics (species and their relationships) and then fit them into a suitable location. This is ideal if you prefer to gather all the building blocks before making your final choice

I’m naturally more inductive, so I started with the food chain first, but it depends on which feels more intuitive and efficient for you. Good luck!!! 

on Aug 09, 2025
#1 Coach for Sessions (4.500+) | 1.500+ 5-Star Reviews | Proven Success: ➡ interviewoffers.com | Ex BCG | 10Y+ Coaching

Hi Frederic,

Q: Do you find it more effective to first choose the terrain/location or first design a strong food chain?

I would recommend choosing the chain first. This is why: 

  • For some locations it is impossible to find a chain that works. Thus, if you pick the location first, you might try to set up a chain with the species that can live there, find that it doesn’t work, and have to redo it for a new location.
  • If you start from the chain, there are some signs early on that can indicate which species could work well together to form a sustainable chain, so you could save time. This won't always be possible if you start with the location, as you are already looking at a subset of species (those suitable for that particular location).
  • There are no downsides to picking the chain first compared to the location. That's because whenever you are selecting a set of producers, you are automatically also selecting a range for the location. Once you have defined a range, picking the location at the end will normally take only a few seconds.

Source: I helped 5000+ candidates with the Solve game with my course here.

Good luck!

Francesco

5 hrs ago
Hi Francesco.
Thanks for your comment and the detailed reasoning. As a starting point for building the chain, my approach would be to focus on the providers and their stats first. Specifically, I’d first look for a constellation where the calories provided by the producers are maximised, and then, based on this foundation, introduce suitable animals that fit into the chain sustainably.

What’s your take on this strategy?
5 hrs ago
#1 Coach for Sessions (4.500+) | 1.500+ 5-Star Reviews | Proven Success: ➡ interviewoffers.com | Ex BCG | 10Y+ Coaching
Hi Frederic, it looks like a good strategy, thus I would say it is a good approach! Hope this helps.
Similar Questions
Consulting
McKinsey Germany working hours 2024
on Sep 03, 2024
Europe
2
3.3k
71
2 Answers
3.3k Views
Consulting
Interview with hr? (McKinsey)
on Sep 26, 2024
Europe
4
1.5k
62
4 Answers
1.5k Views
Consulting
McKinsey: Probability of getting an offer after the unsuccessful final interview
on Oct 03, 2024
Europe
7
6.5k
110
7 Answers
6.5k Views
Consulting
Guidance for prep for McKinsey interview in 1 week
on Oct 18, 2024
Europe
9
6.0k
78
9 Answers
6.0k Views
Show more