head to head
vs
Cities: SkylinesvsThe Incredible Machine 3
Cities: Skylines leans Optimization (Pure Optimization); The Incredible Machine 3 leans Optimization (Pure Optimization).
Cities: SkylinesThe Incredible Machine 3
Axis by axis
Execution0 vs 1
The Incredible Machine 3 leans harder on execution: Placing parts is untimed, no dexterity needed
Reads0 vs 0
Even - both lean on reads about the same.
Variance1 vs 1
Even - both lean on variance about the same.
Optimization10 vs 9
Cities: Skylines leans harder on optimization: Traffic flow, zoning, and budgets are fully 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.