head to head
vs
Exit PathvsMario Bros.
Exit Path leans Execution (Pure Mechanics); Mario Bros. leans Execution (Pure Mechanics).
Exit PathMario Bros.
Axis by axis
Execution8 vs 7
Exit Path leans harder on execution: Precise timed jumps past hazards decide survival
Reads1 vs 1
Even - both lean on reads about the same.
Variance1 vs 2
Mario Bros. leans harder on variance: Enemy spawns vary slightly but patterns are quickly learned
Optimization4 vs 4
Even - both lean on optimization about the same.
Two games can score the same on an axis and still test it in very different ways - read each rationale, not just the number.