head to head
vs
Animal Crossing: New HorizonsvsThe Last Express
Animal Crossing: New Horizons leans Optimization (Pure Optimization); The Last Express leans Optimization (Systems & Chaos).
Animal Crossing: New HorizonsThe Last Express
Axis by axis
Execution1 vs 1
Even - both lean on execution about the same.
Reads0 vs 0
Even - both lean on reads about the same.
Variance3 vs 4
The Last Express leans harder on variance: Schedules and secrets hidden until observed, then fixed
Optimization6 vs 6
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.