head to head
vs
Cataclysm: Dark Days AheadvsDarkest Dungeon
Cataclysm: Dark Days Ahead leans Optimization (Systems & Chaos); Darkest Dungeon leans Optimization (Systems & Chaos).
Cataclysm: Dark Days AheadDarkest Dungeon
Axis by axis
Execution1 vs 0
Cataclysm: Dark Days Ahead leans harder on execution: Turn-based; only patience required
Reads0 vs 0
Even - both lean on reads about the same.
Variance7 vs 7
Even - both lean on variance about the same.
Optimization9 vs 8
Cataclysm: Dark Days Ahead leans harder on optimization: Crafting, vehicles, and base systems reward near-endless mastery
Two games can score the same on an axis and still test it in very different ways - read each rationale, not just the number.