Building comparison
head to head
BastionvsInside
Neither is meaningfully harder - they pose close to the same test. The widest gap is variance, and it is a single point.
Bastion
Optimization · Practiced Mastery
An isometric action RPG narrated as you play.
Inside
Execution · Practiced Mastery
A dark side-scrolling puzzle-platformer about a fleeing boy.
Bastion leans Optimization (Practiced Mastery); Inside leans Execution (Practiced Mastery).
BastionInside
Axis by axis
Execution5 vs 5
Same score on execution - which means the number cannot separate them. The difference is in what each one asks of you.
Bastion
Action combat needs timing and aim.
Inside
Precise platforming and timing.
Reads0 vs 0
Same score on reads - which means the number cannot separate them. The difference is in what each one asks of you.
Bastion
Enemies are scripted.
Inside
Enemies follow scripts.
Variance2 vs 1
Bastion leans a little harder on variance, though the gap is small.
Bastion
Minor loot variance.
Inside
No randomness.
Optimization6 vs 5
Bastion leans a little harder on optimization, though the gap is small.
Bastion
Weapon and idol builds reward planning.
Inside
Puzzles have fixed solutions.
A matching score does not mean a matching test. Two games can both sit at 10 on execution and demand completely different things of you - which is why the reasoning above matters more than the number beside it.