Building comparison
head to head
Fallout 4vsStarfield
Neither is meaningfully harder - they pose close to the same test. The widest gap is execution, and it is a single point.
Fallout 4
Optimization · Pure Optimization
An open-world shooter-RPG won by perk routing and weapon mod optimization.
Starfield
Optimization · Practiced Mastery
Bethesda space RPG with ship and outpost systems.
Fallout 4 leans Optimization (Pure Optimization); Starfield leans Optimization (Practiced Mastery).
Fallout 4Starfield
Axis by axis
Execution4 vs 5
Starfield leans a little harder on execution, though the gap is small.
Fallout 4
FPS aiming, VATS softens demand
Starfield
Shooter and piloting inputs
Reads1 vs 1
Same score on reads - which means the number cannot separate them. The difference is in what each one asks of you.
Fallout 4
Scripted enemy AI
Starfield
Scripted NPC AI patterns
Variance2 vs 3
Starfield leans a little harder on variance, though the gap is small.
Fallout 4
Loot and legendary rolls
Starfield
Procedural planets, loot variance
Optimization7 vs 7
Same score on optimization - which means the number cannot separate them. The difference is in what each one asks of you.
Fallout 4
Perks, settlement, weapon mod planning
Starfield
Ship building, outpost, perk routing
A matching score does not mean a matching test. Two games can both sit at 10 on execution and demand completely different things of you - which is why the reasoning above matters more than the number beside it.