head to head
vs
Baldur's GatevsMerge & Blade
Baldur's Gate leans Optimization (Pure Optimization); Merge & Blade leans Optimization (Pure Optimization).
Baldur's GateMerge & Blade
Axis by axis
Execution2 vs 2
Even - both lean on execution about the same.
Reads0 vs 1
Merge & Blade leans harder on reads: Monster armies scripted, not adaptive opponents
Variance5 vs 5
Even - both lean on variance about the same.
Optimization8 vs 8
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.