Building comparison
head to head
999: Nine Hours, Nine Persons, Nine DoorsvsZak McKracken and the Alien Mindbenders
Neither is harder. They score identically on all four axes, so the difference between them is in kind, not degree.
999: Nine Hours, Nine Persons, Nine Doors
Optimization · Systems & Chaos
A visual novel thriller mixing escape-room puzzles with branching life-or-death story routes.
Zak McKracken and the Alien Mindbenders
Optimization · Systems & Chaos
A zany LucasArts adventure where a tabloid reporter foils aliens dumbing down humanity with a 60-Hz hum.
999: Nine Hours, Nine Persons, Nine Doors leans Optimization (Systems & Chaos); Zak McKracken and the Alien Mindbenders leans Optimization (Systems & Chaos).
999: Nine Hours, Nine Persons, Nine DoorsZak McKracken and the Alien Mindbenders
Axis by axis
Execution0 vs 0
Same score on execution - which means the number cannot separate them. The difference is in what each one asks of you.
999: Nine Hours, Nine Persons, Nine Doors
Tapping through text and puzzles, zero dexterity
Zak McKracken and the Alien Mindbenders
Verb-and-click interface; nothing physical.
Reads0 vs 0
Same score on reads - which means the number cannot separate them. The difference is in what each one asks of you.
999: Nine Hours, Nine Persons, Nine Doors
Characters follow a fixed script, never adapt
Zak McKracken and the Alien Mindbenders
Dumb aliens run on rails; no adaptation anywhere.
Variance4 vs 4
Same score on variance - which means the number cannot separate them. The difference is in what each one asks of you.
999: Nine Hours, Nine Persons, Nine Doors
Hidden story branches and twists drive first playthroughs
Zak McKracken and the Alien Mindbenders
Globe-trotting item requirements are obscure on first play.
Optimization6 vs 6
Same score on optimization - which means the number cannot separate them. The difference is in what each one asks of you.
999: Nine Hours, Nine Persons, Nine Doors
Escape-room puzzles and route flowchart are fully solvable
Zak McKracken and the Alien Mindbenders
Multi-character inventory chains form one big solvable puzzle.
A matching score does not mean a matching test. Two games can both sit at 10 on execution and demand completely different things of you - which is why the reasoning above matters more than the number beside it.
full breakdown
999: Nine Hours, Nine Persons, Nine Doors →
full breakdown
Zak McKracken and the Alien Mindbenders →
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