Building comparison
head to head
Dark Arcana: The CarnivalvsThe Dig
Neither is meaningfully harder - they pose close to the same test. The widest gap is execution, and it is a single point.
Dark Arcana: The Carnival
Optimization · Systems & Chaos
Tests visual search and light puzzle solving through a scripted mystery.
The Dig
Optimization · Pure Optimization
A LucasArts sci-fi adventure where astronauts stranded on an alien world puzzle out its dead civilization.
Dark Arcana: The Carnival leans Optimization (Systems & Chaos); The Dig leans Optimization (Pure Optimization).
Dark Arcana: The CarnivalThe Dig
Axis by axis
Execution1 vs 0
Dark Arcana: The Carnival leans a little harder on execution, though the gap is small.
Dark Arcana: The Carnival
Clicking hidden objects needs no dexterity
The Dig
Point-and-click; no reflex demands.
Reads0 vs 0
Same score on reads - which means the number cannot separate them. The difference is in what each one asks of you.
Dark Arcana: The Carnival
Solo with entirely scripted story beats
The Dig
Alien world is static; companions follow scripts.
Variance3 vs 3
Same score on variance - which means the number cannot separate them. The difference is in what each one asks of you.
Dark Arcana: The Carnival
Object locations are unknown until spotted
The Dig
Alien machinery's purpose is hidden until experimented with.
Optimization5 vs 6
The Dig leans a little harder on optimization, though the gap is small.
Dark Arcana: The Carnival
Minigames and scene logic have fixed solutions
The Dig
Machine puzzles have single fixed solutions to deduce.
A matching score does not mean a matching test. Two games can both sit at 10 on execution and demand completely different things of you - which is why the reasoning above matters more than the number beside it.