head to head
vs
ExapunksvsOuter Wilds
Exapunks leans Optimization (Pure Optimization); Outer Wilds leans Optimization (Pure Optimization).
ExapunksOuter Wilds
Axis by axis
Execution1 vs 2
Outer Wilds leans harder on execution: Light piloting, mostly forgiving
Reads0 vs 0
Even - both lean on reads about the same.
Variance0 vs 1
Outer Wilds leans harder on variance: Loop is deterministic once understood
Optimization10 vs 9
Exapunks leans harder on optimization: Writing minimal efficient EXA programs to manipulate each network puzzle
Two games can score the same on an axis and still test it in very different ways - read each rationale, not just the number.