head to head
vs
Aliens: Dark DescentvsSteamWorld Heist
Aliens: Dark Descent leans Optimization (Pure Optimization); SteamWorld Heist leans Optimization (Pure Optimization).
Aliens: Dark DescentSteamWorld Heist
Axis by axis
Execution3 vs 4
SteamWorld Heist leans harder on execution: Manual aim and ricochet shots reward steady hands
Reads0 vs 0
Even - both lean on reads about the same.
Variance4 vs 3
Aliens: Dark Descent leans harder on variance: Hunts and stress events inject uncertainty
Optimization7 vs 7
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.