From apprenticeship in space to selecting microbes: Meet McKinsey’s game-based innovation lab
From apprenticeship in space to selecting microbes: Meet McKinsey’s game-based innovation lab
From apprenticeship in space to selecting microbes: Meet McKinsey’s game-based innovation lab
July, 9, 2025
Summary
Since 2020, McKinsey's Game-Based Innovation Lab (GBIL), formed after acquiring Imbellus, has been developing digital games for recruiting and professional development. Their first game, Sea Wolf, is part of the Solve assessment, used to evaluate analytical thinking in over 300,000 candidates annually. The team, led by Brian Mendoza, also creates learning games like Nebula Odyssey, which teaches apprenticeship through simulated leadership decisions. With experts in design, engineering, data science, and assessment, the team follows a highly collaborative, iterative development process. Assessment games can take up to a year to build, while learning games aim for a 3–6 month timeline.
Reference
McKinsey & Company. (2025, July 9). From apprenticeship in space to selecting microbes: Meet McKinsey’s game-based innovation lab. Retrieved from https://www.mckinsey.com/about-us/new-at-mckinsey-blog/from-apprenticeship-in-space-to-selecting-microbes-meet-mckinseys-game-based-innovation-lab