head to head
vs
Dead IslandvsSteamWorld Dig
Dead Island leans Optimization (Practiced Mastery); SteamWorld Dig leans Optimization (Practiced Mastery).
Dead IslandSteamWorld Dig
Axis by axis
Execution5 vs 4
Dead Island leans harder on execution: first-person melee timing and stamina
Reads0 vs 0
Even - both lean on reads about the same.
Variance3 vs 4
SteamWorld Dig leans harder on variance: Randomised mine layouts hide ore and hazards each run
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.