head to head
vs
Baldur's GatevsCore Keeper
Baldur's Gate leans Optimization (Pure Optimization); Core Keeper leans Optimization (Systems & Chaos).
Baldur's GateCore Keeper
Axis by axis
Execution2 vs 3
Core Keeper leans harder on execution: Boss fights and melee require learned dodge timing
Reads0 vs 0
Even - both lean on reads about the same.
Variance5 vs 5
Even - both lean on variance about the same.
Optimization8 vs 7
Baldur's Gate leans harder on optimization: Party builds and encounter prep 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.