head to head
vs
Dig IslandvsSimCity (2013)
Dig Island leans Optimization (Pure Optimization); SimCity (2013) leans Optimization (Pure Optimization).
Dig IslandSimCity (2013)
Axis by axis
Execution2 vs 1
Dig Island leans harder on execution: Digging and hauling need no twitch skill
Reads0 vs 0
Even - both lean on reads about the same.
Variance3 vs 3
Even - both lean on variance about the same.
Optimization7 vs 8
SimCity (2013) leans harder on optimization: Specialization chains and traffic layouts reward systematic planning.
Two games can score the same on an axis and still test it in very different ways - read each rationale, not just the number.