head to head
vs
FaçadevsPentiment
Façade leans Variance (Bluff & Deduction); Pentiment leans Optimization (Systems & Chaos).
FaçadePentiment
Axis by axis
Execution0 vs 0
Even - both lean on execution about the same.
Reads2 vs 1
Façade leans harder on reads: The AI reacts richly but follows mappable drama beats
Variance4 vs 3
Façade leans harder on variance: Hidden conversational state makes each playthrough unpredictable
Optimization2 vs 4
Pentiment leans harder on optimization: Dialogue and time budgeting 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.