head to head
vs
999: Nine Hours, Nine Persons, Nine DoorsvsThe Past Within
999: Nine Hours, Nine Persons, Nine Doors leans Optimization (Systems & Chaos); The Past Within leans Optimization (Pure Optimization).
999: Nine Hours, Nine Persons, Nine DoorsThe Past Within
Axis by axis
Execution0 vs 1
The Past Within leans harder on execution: Simple manipulation; no dexterity test.
Reads0 vs 1
The Past Within leans harder on reads: Partner cooperates rather than opposes; trivial adaptation.
Variance4 vs 4
Even - both lean on variance about the same.
Optimization6 vs 8
The Past Within leans harder on optimization: Cross-referencing two fixed puzzle halves solves everything.
Two games can score the same on an axis and still test it in very different ways - read each rationale, not just the number.