head to head
vs
Dwarf FortressvsX-COM: UFO Defense
Dwarf Fortress leans Optimization (Pure Optimization); X-COM: UFO Defense leans Optimization (Systems & Chaos).
Dwarf FortressX-COM: UFO Defense
Axis by axis
Execution1 vs 1
Even - both lean on execution about the same.
Reads0 vs 0
Even - both lean on reads about the same.
Variance6 vs 6
Even - both lean on variance about the same.
Optimization9 vs 8
Dwarf Fortress leans harder on optimization: Military, food chains, and fortress layout reward encyclopedic systems mastery
Two games can score the same on an axis and still test it in very different ways - read each rationale, not just the number.