head to head
vs
Dragon Quest XI S: Echoes of an Elusive AgevsStygian: Reign of the Old Ones
Dragon Quest XI S: Echoes of an Elusive Age leans Optimization (Pure Optimization); Stygian: Reign of the Old Ones leans Optimization (Pure Optimization).
Dragon Quest XI S: Echoes of an Elusive AgeStygian: Reign of the Old Ones
Axis by axis
Execution2 vs 2
Even - both lean on execution about the same.
Reads1 vs 2
Stygian: Reign of the Old Ones leans harder on reads: Enemies follow scripts, not adapting to you
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.