head to head
vs
Curious ExpeditionvsDon't Starve
Curious Expedition leans Variance (Systems & Chaos); Don't Starve leans Variance (Systems & Chaos).
Curious ExpeditionDon't Starve
Axis by axis
Execution0 vs 2
Don't Starve leans harder on execution: Kiting combat is simple but timing matters marginally
Reads0 vs 0
Even - both lean on reads about the same.
Variance8 vs 7
Curious Expedition leans harder on variance: Hidden hex maps, event rolls and sanity gambles
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.