head to head
vs
Don't StarvevsThe Painscreek Killings
Don't Starve leans Variance (Systems & Chaos); The Painscreek Killings leans Variance (Systems & Chaos).
Don't StarveThe Painscreek Killings
Axis by axis
Execution2 vs 1
Don't Starve leans harder on execution: Kiting combat is simple but timing matters marginally
Reads0 vs 0
Even - both lean on reads about the same.
Variance7 vs 7
Even - both lean on variance about the same.
Optimization7 vs 5
Don't Starve leans harder on optimization: Seasonal resource planning and character synergies are deeply solvable
Two games can score the same on an axis and still test it in very different ways - read each rationale, not just the number.