head to head
vs
9 Clues: The Secret of Serpent CreekvsThe Neverhood
9 Clues: The Secret of Serpent Creek leans Optimization (Pure Optimization); The Neverhood leans Optimization (Pure Optimization).
9 Clues: The Secret of Serpent CreekThe Neverhood
Axis by axis
Execution1 vs 1
Even - both lean on execution about the same.
Reads0 vs 0
Even - both lean on reads about the same.
Variance2 vs 1
9 Clues: The Secret of Serpent Creek leans harder on variance: Object and clue locations hidden until found
Optimization5 vs 4
9 Clues: The Secret of Serpent Creek leans harder on optimization: Working through puzzles and deductions is the loop
Two games can score the same on an axis and still test it in very different ways - read each rationale, not just the number.