head to head
vs
CulticvsDownwell
Cultic leans Execution (Pure Mechanics); Downwell leans Execution (Pure Mechanics).
CulticDownwell
Axis by axis
Execution8 vs 8
Even - both lean on execution about the same.
Reads0 vs 0
Even - both lean on reads about the same.
Variance3 vs 4
Downwell leans harder on variance: Procedural wells and shop offers vary runs
Optimization5 vs 4
Cultic leans harder on optimization: Grenade and melee resource management reward systematic conserving play
Two games can score the same on an axis and still test it in very different ways - read each rationale, not just the number.