head to head
vs
DREDGEvsPlatform 8
DREDGE leans Optimization (Systems & Chaos); Platform 8 leans Variance (Systems & Chaos).
DREDGEPlatform 8
Axis by axis
Execution2 vs 1
DREDGE leans harder on execution: Fishing minigames and night dodging, light demands
Reads0 vs 0
Even - both lean on reads about the same.
Variance4 vs 6
Platform 8 leans harder on variance: Spotting which anomaly spawned is hidden-information detection
Optimization6 vs 5
DREDGE leans harder on optimization: Cargo tetris, routes, and upgrades 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.