head to head
vs
Ancient EnemyvsFallout Shelter
Ancient Enemy leans Optimization (Systems & Chaos); Fallout Shelter leans Optimization (Pure Optimization).
Ancient EnemyFallout Shelter
Axis by axis
Execution1 vs 0
Ancient Enemy leans harder on execution: Solitaire-style card play has no timing demands
Reads0 vs 0
Even - both lean on reads about the same.
Variance5 vs 4
Ancient Enemy leans harder on variance: Card layout draws shape each encounter's options
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.