head to head
vs
A Game About Digging A HolevsUnpacking
A Game About Digging A Hole leans Optimization (Pure Optimization); Unpacking leans Optimization (Pure Optimization).
A Game About Digging A HoleUnpacking
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
A Game About Digging A Hole leans harder on variance: Ore placement is unknown until dug
Optimization6 vs 5
A Game About Digging A Hole leans harder on optimization: Upgrade-loop economics and dig routing are the whole game
Two games can score the same on an axis and still test it in very different ways - read each rationale, not just the number.