head to head
vs
Age of WondersvsEndless Legend
Age of Wonders leans Optimization (Pure Optimization); Endless Legend leans Optimization (Pure Optimization).
Age of WondersEndless Legend
Axis by axis
Execution1 vs 1
Even - both lean on execution about the same.
Reads3 vs 3
Even - both lean on reads about the same.
Variance3 vs 4
Endless Legend leans harder on variance: quest and tech rolls
Optimization9 vs 8
Age of Wonders leans harder on optimization: Economy, stack-building and terrain tactics 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.