head to head
vs
Democracy 4vsFallout Shelter
Democracy 4 leans Optimization (Pure Optimization); Fallout Shelter leans Optimization (Pure Optimization).
Democracy 4Fallout Shelter
Axis by axis
Execution0 vs 0
Even - both lean on execution about the same.
Reads0 vs 0
Even - both lean on reads about the same.
Variance3 vs 4
Fallout Shelter leans harder on variance: Incident spawns and lunchbox loot rolls
Optimization8 vs 7
Democracy 4 leans harder on optimization: A perfect coach solves the policy-web economy almost entirely
Two games can score the same on an axis and still test it in very different ways - read each rationale, not just the number.