head to head
vs
Detective Pikachu ReturnsvsSpiritfarer
Detective Pikachu Returns leans Optimization (Pure Optimization); Spiritfarer leans Optimization (Pure Optimization).
Detective Pikachu ReturnsSpiritfarer
Axis by axis
Execution1 vs 2
Spiritfarer leans harder on execution: Platforming is light and forgiving.
Reads1 vs 0
Detective Pikachu Returns leans harder on reads: Suspects are scripted, not adapting to you
Variance1 vs 1
Even - both lean on variance about the same.
Optimization5 vs 5
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.