Building comparison
head to head
Age of Wonders: Shadow MagicvsFallout: New Vegas
Neither is simply harder - they are hard in different places. Age of Wonders: Shadow Magic demands more reads; Fallout: New Vegas demands more execution.
Age of Wonders: Shadow Magic
Optimization · Pure Optimization
Empire economy and tactical army math under fog, with human prediction in multiplayer.
Fallout: New Vegas
Optimization · Pure Optimization
A faction-driven RPG-shooter where build and route planning shape every ending.
Age of Wonders: Shadow Magic leans Optimization (Pure Optimization); Fallout: New Vegas leans Optimization (Pure Optimization).
Age of Wonders: Shadow MagicFallout: New Vegas
Axis by axis
Execution1 vs 4
Fallout: New Vegas leans clearly harder on execution.
Age of Wonders: Shadow Magic
Turn-based - clicking carries no physical weight
Fallout: New Vegas
Shooter inputs with VATS assist
Reads4 vs 1
Age of Wonders: Shadow Magic leans clearly harder on reads.
Age of Wonders: Shadow Magic
Human multiplayer rewards predicting expansion and army intent
Fallout: New Vegas
Scripted factions and enemies
Variance4 vs 2
Age of Wonders: Shadow Magic leans clearly harder on variance.
Age of Wonders: Shadow Magic
Map generation and combat rolls add real uncertainty
Fallout: New Vegas
Some loot and crit RNG
Optimization8 vs 8
Same score on optimization - which means the number cannot separate them. The difference is in what each one asks of you.
Age of Wonders: Shadow Magic
Economy, research and tactical combat math dominate
Fallout: New Vegas
Faction routing, perks, builds heavily rewarded
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.