head to head
vs
Code Name S.T.E.A.M.vsSlime Rancher
Code Name S.T.E.A.M. leans Optimization (Pure Optimization); Slime Rancher leans Optimization (Pure Optimization).
Code Name S.T.E.A.M.Slime Rancher
Axis by axis
Execution3 vs 2
Code Name S.T.E.A.M. leans harder on execution: Manual third-person aiming adds a real but small hands layer
Reads1 vs 0
Code Name S.T.E.A.M. leans harder on reads: Alien AI runs fixed behaviours, never modelling you
Variance3 vs 3
Even - both lean on variance about the same.
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.