head to head
vs
7 Days to DievsIcarus
7 Days to Die leans Optimization (Pure Optimization); Icarus leans Optimization (Systems & Chaos).
7 Days to DieIcarus
Axis by axis
Execution4 vs 4
Even - both lean on execution about the same.
Reads1 vs 0
7 Days to Die leans harder on reads: Zombie AI is largely scripted with minor pathing adaptation.
Variance4 vs 5
Icarus leans harder on variance: Storm timing, ore deposits, and creature encounters carry session RNG
Optimization7 vs 7
Even - both lean on optimization about the same.
Two games can score the same on an axis and still test it in very different ways - read each rationale, not just the number.