head to head
vs
Age of WondersvsPokémon Violet
Age of Wonders leans Optimization (Pure Optimization); Pokémon Violet leans Optimization (Pure Optimization).
Age of WondersPokémon Violet
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
Pokémon Violet leans harder on variance: Encounters, IVs and catch rolls add managed randomness
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.