head to head
vs
Assassin's Creed ShadowsvsHorizon Zero Dawn
Assassin's Creed Shadows leans Optimization (Practiced Mastery); Horizon Zero Dawn leans Execution (Practiced Mastery).
Assassin's Creed ShadowsHorizon Zero Dawn
Axis by axis
Execution4 vs 5
Horizon Zero Dawn leans harder on execution: Bow aiming and dodge timing matter.
Reads1 vs 1
Even - both lean on reads about the same.
Variance2 vs 2
Even - both lean on variance about the same.
Optimization6 vs 5
Assassin's Creed Shadows leans harder on optimization: Builds, gear, and stealth routes solvable.
Two games can score the same on an axis and still test it in very different ways - read each rationale, not just the number.