head to head
vs
Cat Goes FishingvsThe Banner Saga
Cat Goes Fishing leans Optimization (Pure Optimization); The Banner Saga leans Optimization (Systems & Chaos).
Cat Goes FishingThe Banner Saga
Axis by axis
Execution3 vs 2
Cat Goes Fishing leans harder on execution: Reeling has light timing but no twitch ceiling
Reads1 vs 1
Even - both lean on reads about the same.
Variance4 vs 5
The Banner Saga leans harder on variance: Armor/strength interaction and random narrative outcomes create variance
Optimization7 vs 7
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.