head to head
vs
Age of Empires IIIvsCrossout
Age of Empires III leans Optimization (Mind & Math); Crossout leans Optimization (Practiced Mastery).
Age of Empires IIICrossout
Axis by axis
Execution5 vs 6
Crossout leans harder on execution: Aiming weak points while driving demands solid vehicle control
Reads6 vs 4
Age of Empires III leans harder on reads: Human deck and timing reads in ranked
Variance4 vs 3
Age of Empires III leans harder on variance: Map spawns and shipment ordering unknowns
Optimization8 vs 8
Even - both lean on optimization about the same.
Two games can score the same on an axis and still test it in very different ways - read each rationale, not just the number.