head to head

Dave the Diver cover artvsIcarus cover art

Dave the DivervsIcarus

Dave the Diver leans Optimization (Pure Optimization); Icarus leans Optimization (Systems & Chaos).

EXECUTION4 /10READS0 /10VARIANCE4 /10OPTIMIZATION7 /10
Dave the DiverIcarus

Axis by axis

Execution4 vs 4

Even - both lean on execution about the same.

Reads0 vs 0

Even - both lean on reads about the same.

Variance4 vs 5

Icarus leans harder on variance: Storm timing, ore deposits, and creature encounters carry session RNG

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.

full breakdown

Dave the Diver

full breakdown

Icarus