head to head
vs
Dragon Quest XI S: Echoes of an Elusive AgevsPokémon Shield
Dragon Quest XI S: Echoes of an Elusive Age leans Optimization (Pure Optimization); Pokémon Shield leans Optimization (Pure Optimization).
Dragon Quest XI S: Echoes of an Elusive AgePokémon Shield
Axis by axis
Execution2 vs 1
Dragon Quest XI S: Echoes of an Elusive Age leans harder on execution: Classic turn-based; no twitch input at any point
Reads1 vs 1
Even - both lean on reads about the same.
Variance4 vs 4
Even - both lean on variance about the same.
Optimization8 vs 7
Dragon Quest XI S: Echoes of an Elusive Age leans harder on optimization: Skill tree routing, Pep power sequencing, and party healing economy reward 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.