Best Alternative to Game-Assessments Preparationby LSE (2026)

The LSE Careers blog has a solid primer on game-based assessments, what they are, why employers use them, and how to approach them calmly.

That said, LSE’s guidance is mostly educational. It explains the logic of GBAs and suggests general best practices like practicing, reading instructions carefully, and ensuring your internet connection is stable. What it does not give you is a full, modern practice environment that mirrors the actual timed games you will face in 2026, especially if your test is HireVue or Pymetrics.

So if you want a true alternative to “preparing with an article”, meaning you want hands-on, repeatable practice with realistic simulations, here are the best options.

What the LSE preparation is missing

LSE covers the fundamentals, but practical preparation usually needs more than fundamentals:

• Realistic timed simulations that feel like the real assessment, not just advice
• Coverage across the full set of games you might receive (HireVue can include up to 11 games, and Pymetrics can include more)
• Repetition with variation, so you build performance under pressure rather than memorizing one pattern
• Structured guidance on what each game is measuring and how to train that specific skill

LSE also points students and alumni to Graduates First for practice, which is useful, but it is not the only path, and it is not always the most targeted path depending on your provider.

Best alternative overall if your assessment is HireVue

1) Game Assessment Prep: the most complete HireVue-focused practice

If your invite says HireVue (or you recognize games like Numerosity, Flashback, Digitspan, Pathfinder, Shapedance, PortraitXT, Teamchat), the best alternative to LSE’s general preparation is a platform that is purpose-built for the HireVue game package.

Game Assessment Prep is designed specifically around HireVue and offers timed practice for 13 HireVue-style games, grouped by skill area (cognitive, spatial, personality, emotions). You are not just reading about how to stay calm; you are repeatedly practicing the relevant mechanics.

What makes it the best fit versus general resources:

• Broad HireVue coverage: 13 practice games in one place
• Timed, realistic simulations: you practice under pressure instead of guessing how it will feel
• Difficulty levels: you can ramp up intensity instead of playing the same simple version forever
• Strategy and focus tips: practical guidance tied to each game type, not generic advice

If your goal is “perform better next week”, this is usually the fastest route because it minimizes surprise.

Best alternative if you want broad provider coverage

2) Graduates First: multi-provider style practice, one-time purchase

LSE specifically recommends Graduates First for practice (free for LSE students and alumni using a university email). Even if you are not eligible for free access, it can still be a good option if you want general game-style training that is not locked to one provider.

It is strongest when:

• you do not know which provider you will face
• you want a one-time payment model
• you want to train general behaviors like attention, memory, and risk style across different game formats

The tradeoff is that it is not as “exact match” as a HireVue-only simulator when your assessment is definitely HireVue.

Best alternative if your assessment is Pymetrics

3) A Pymetrics-only simulator: best when you need the full Pymetrics set

If your assessment is explicitly Pymetrics, your best alternative is a platform that focuses on Pymetrics games and the way Pymetrics rotates scenarios. The key requirement here is breadth and variation across the Pymetrics mini-games, because the value is in building consistent behavior under shifting prompts.

This option is ideal when:

• the employer uses Pymetrics specifically
• you want repeated practice that changes each attempt
• you want post-game feedback reports to spot patterns

Which one should you choose?

If you want the simplest decision rule:

• HireVue invite: choose Game Assessment Prep
• Pymetrics invite: choose a Pymetrics-focused simulator
• Not sure which provider, or you want broad exposure: choose Graduates First (especially if you can access it free via a university)