head to head
vs
9 Clues: The Secret of Serpent CreekvsBeneath a Steel Sky
9 Clues: The Secret of Serpent Creek leans Optimization (Pure Optimization); Beneath a Steel Sky leans Optimization (Pure Optimization).
9 Clues: The Secret of Serpent CreekBeneath a Steel Sky
Axis by axis
Execution1 vs 0
9 Clues: The Secret of Serpent Creek leans harder on execution: Clicking hidden objects needs only patience
Reads0 vs 0
Even - both lean on reads about the same.
Variance2 vs 2
Even - both lean on variance about the same.
Optimization5 vs 6
Beneath a Steel Sky leans harder on optimization: Inventory puzzle chains are fully solvable
Two games can score the same on an axis and still test it in very different ways - read each rationale, not just the number.