The pymetrics games are a set of 12 or more short, nonverbal behavioral games that employers use to measure traits such as attention, effort, risk tolerance, decision making, learning, focus, fairness, generosity and emotion. As of October 2026, pymetrics is part of Harver, which acquired it in 2022 and says candidates finish the games in about 25 minutes on average and get immediate results and feedback.
Because the games measure how you behave rather than what you know, you can't study answers for them. Good preparation means understanding the format, knowing the rules and setting up a quiet, uninterrupted half hour. The facts below come from Harver's pymetrics game-based assessments page and the pymetrics terms of service, checked in October 2026; the advice is ours.
What are the pymetrics games?
Harver describes the games as neuroscience-based, gamified behavioral assessments for soft skills. They are nonverbal and designed to be intuitive, which Harver says limits cultural and language bias. Each game is short, has its own on-screen instructions and captures many data points about how you play. Harver's page shows a balloon game as one example.
Employers most often use pymetrics for early-career hiring. Harver says the games suit internships, graduate programs and entry-level roles because they focus on behavior and potential rather than work history.
How pymetrics differs from an aptitude test
If you've taken a timed reasoning test before, the pymetrics games will feel different in a few ways:
- No knowledge to show. Aptitude tests such as the CCAT or SHL reasoning tests have correct answers. The pymetrics games record how you choose, react and adjust.
- No single score to beat. Your results are compared with a role profile, not ranked on one scale.
- Short games instead of one long block. You move through a series of separate games, each with its own instructions.
- Little reading. The games are nonverbal, so language skills matter less than in verbal reasoning tests.
What do the pymetrics games measure?
Harver lists the traits below. The left column is Harver's; the plain-language meaning in the middle is our reading, not a vendor definition.
| Trait (Harver's list) | What it likely means in plain words (our reading) | What that suggests for you |
|---|---|---|
| Attention | How you notice and track information | Play when you're alert, not at midnight |
| Focus | How well you stay on task through distractions | Silence your phone and close other apps |
| Effort | How you weigh work against reward | Read each game's instructions before acting |
| Risk tolerance | How you balance possible gains against possible losses | Play the way you'd actually decide |
| Decision making | How you choose under time pressure or uncertainty | Don't freeze; a natural pace is fine |
| Learning | How you adjust as you get feedback | Pay attention to what each round tells you |
| Fairness and generosity | How you treat others when sharing resources | There's no right split; be yourself |
| Emotion | How you read emotional cues | Take your time looking at each prompt |
Harver doesn't publish a single pass mark. It says each assessment captures thousands of data points that build a profile, which is matched to the role you applied for and potentially to other jobs, with 900+ pre-built job profiles available to employers. In other words, a trait level that fits one role may not fit another.
Which pymetrics rules should you know before you play?
The pymetrics terms of service (last updated May 2019) set rules that still matter, though your invitation may add its own:
- Each game once a year. The terms say you may play each game only once in any 12-month period, so a rushed attempt can follow you to other applications.
- Don't stop halfway. The terms say not to stop a game partway through or end it on purpose to repeat it.
- Play attentively. The terms ask you to take the games seriously and play attentively.
- Accessible versions exist. Before you start, you may be offered versions modified for color blindness, ADHD or dyslexia. The terms say those answers are private and not shared with employers.
Take the assessment yourself and follow the employer's rules — use CoPilot Interview to practice beforehand. Nothing in CoPilot Interview simulates the pymetrics games, and there's nothing to look up during them anyway; they measure how you naturally play.
How to prepare for the pymetrics games
Preparation is mostly about conditions. This checklist is ours:
| When | What to do | Why |
|---|---|---|
| When the invitation arrives | Note the deadline and any device instructions | You only get one attempt per game in 12 months |
| The day before | Pick a 40-minute slot when you're rested | About 25 minutes of play plus setup and instructions |
| Setup | Charged device, stable connection, notifications off | An interruption can wreck a game you can't replay |
| Before you start | Ask for an accessible version if you need one | Color blindness, ADHD and dyslexia versions exist |
| Each game | Read the instructions fully, then play at your natural pace | Misreading the goal skews your results more than any strategy |
| Afterward | Read your feedback | Harver says candidates get immediate results and feedback |
Are unofficial practice games worth it?
Unofficial practice versions can make the mechanics feel familiar, which may calm nerves. They are not the real games, and since there's no correct way to play, scores on practice sites don't predict anything. Ten minutes of familiarization is plenty; spend the rest of your prep time on the interview.
What comes after the pymetrics games?
If your profile fits, the next step is usually an interview, often behavioral, sometimes a one-way video round. For early-career candidates with little work history, that's where preparation pays off most. Some employers also use other Harver assessments; see our Harver assessment guide for those.
- Build five stories. Use the STAR story builder to draft examples from school projects, clubs, jobs or volunteering. Our guide to answering behavioral questions without work experience shows where to find them.
- Say them out loud. A free AI mock interview in your browser asks real questions, and the CoPilot Interview desktop app builds a mock interview from your résumé and the job description, reads each question aloud and scores your spoken answer out of 10 with what to fix and a model answer.
- Repeat your weakest answers. Redo any answer that scored low until it's clear and under two minutes.
For the bigger picture, read what an online assessment is and our new grad online assessment guide.
Common pymetrics mistakes
- Playing on a phone in a busy place. Distractions can change how you play games that look at attention and focus.
- Quitting a game to restart it. The terms ask you not to, and games are limited to one play in 12 months.
- Skimming instructions. Each game has different rules; a misunderstood goal skews your results.
- Trying to fake a profile. You don't know the target, and your interview will need to match the person the games described.
- Not asking for an accessible version when you'd qualify for one.
Games done? Practice the interview
Answer real behavioral questions out loud and get each answer scored out of 10 with what to fix, free in your browser.
Try a free AI mock interviewFAQ
How long do the pymetrics games take?
Harver says candidates complete the games in about 25 minutes on average, as of October 2026. Allow 40 minutes for setup and instructions.
How many pymetrics games are there?
Harver describes 12 or more interactive game-based experiences. Your invitation shows what to expect before you begin.
Is pymetrics still a separate company?
No. Harver acquired pymetrics in 2022, and Harver now offers the games as pymetrics for game-based assessments.
Can you fail the pymetrics games?
There is no published pass mark. Your profile is matched against what the employer is looking for in a role, so the same results can fit one job and not another.
Can I retake the pymetrics games?
The pymetrics terms of service say you may play each game only once in any 12-month period. Check your invitation for the employer's current rules.
Are there accessible versions of the pymetrics games?
Yes. The pymetrics terms describe versions modified for color blindness, ADHD and dyslexia, and say your answers about them are not shared with employers.
Can CoPilot Interview help with pymetrics?
Not with the games. Play them yourself and follow the employer's rules. CoPilot Interview helps you practice the interviews that usually come after.