head to head
vs
CryptmastervsThe Sinking City
Cryptmaster leans Optimization (Systems & Chaos); The Sinking City leans Optimization (Pure Optimization).
CryptmasterThe Sinking City
Axis by axis
Execution3 vs 2
Cryptmaster leans harder on execution: Typing words quickly under combat pressure matters somewhat
Reads0 vs 0
Even - both lean on reads about the same.
Variance4 vs 3
Cryptmaster leans harder on variance: Hidden letters and unknown answers drive the guessing
Optimization6 vs 6
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.