head to head
vs
Dig IslandvsDREDGE
Dig Island leans Optimization (Pure Optimization); DREDGE leans Optimization (Systems & Chaos).
Dig IslandDREDGE
Axis by axis
Execution2 vs 2
Even - both lean on execution about the same.
Reads0 vs 0
Even - both lean on reads about the same.
Variance3 vs 4
DREDGE leans harder on variance: Fish spawns and fog-of-dread unknowns until mapped
Optimization7 vs 6
Dig Island leans harder on optimization: Upgrade ordering and dig-route efficiency drive escape progress
Two games can score the same on an axis and still test it in very different ways - read each rationale, not just the number.