head to head
vs
DownwellvsRico
Downwell leans Execution (Pure Mechanics); Rico leans Execution (Twitch Chaos).
DownwellRico
Axis by axis
Execution8 vs 7
Downwell leans harder on execution: Gunboot timing and split-second landings decide runs
Reads0 vs 2
Rico leans harder on reads: AI enemies fixed; light coop coordination, no human prediction
Variance4 vs 5
Rico leans harder on variance: Procedural level and enemy layouts add real randomness
Optimization4 vs 4
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.