head to head
vs
Dungeon Keeper 2vsKnights and Merchants: The Shattered Kingdom
Dungeon Keeper 2 leans Optimization (Pure Optimization); Knights and Merchants: The Shattered Kingdom leans Optimization (Pure Optimization).
Dungeon Keeper 2Knights and Merchants: The Shattered Kingdom
Axis by axis
Execution3 vs 2
Dungeon Keeper 2 leans harder on execution: Slap-and-drop micro and possession combat need quick hands.
Reads1 vs 1
Even - both lean on reads about the same.
Variance2 vs 2
Even - both lean on variance about the same.
Optimization7 vs 8
Knights and Merchants: The Shattered Kingdom leans harder on optimization: Food chains and serf logistics are the dominant solvable layer.
Two games can score the same on an axis and still test it in very different ways - read each rationale, not just the number.