head to head
vs
AutomachefvsCities: Skylines
Automachef leans Optimization (Pure Optimization); Cities: Skylines leans Optimization (Pure Optimization).
AutomachefCities: Skylines
Axis by axis
Execution1 vs 0
Automachef leans harder on execution: Placing components happens unpaused with no twitch element
Reads0 vs 0
Even - both lean on reads about the same.
Variance1 vs 1
Even - both lean on variance about the same.
Optimization9 vs 10
Cities: Skylines leans harder on optimization: Traffic flow, zoning, and budgets are fully 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.