After completing her education, McGonigal begins working as an independent game designer. This early experience involves experimenting with different game mechanics, narratives, and technologies, likely creating games for various platforms and purposes.

McGonigal works at the Institute for the Future (IFTF), a non-profit research organization. At IFTF, she focuses on futures studies and uses game design principles to explore potential future scenarios, helping organizations and individuals prepare for upcoming challenges and opportunities. This role provides her with a platform to research the social impact of games and to design games for positive change.

The initial concepts for what would eventually become SuperBetter begin to take shape. This period may have involved experimentation with game mechanics designed to enhance resilience and well-being.