Building comparison
head to head
Fallout: New VegasvsScrap Mechanic
Neither is meaningfully harder - they pose close to the same test. The widest gap is execution, and it is a single point.
Fallout: New Vegas
Optimization · Pure Optimization
A faction-driven RPG-shooter where build and route planning shape every ending.
Scrap Mechanic
Optimization · Pure Optimization
A creative engineering sandbox where machines built from logic and bearings do the heavy lifting.
Fallout: New Vegas leans Optimization (Pure Optimization); Scrap Mechanic leans Optimization (Pure Optimization).
Fallout: New VegasScrap Mechanic
Axis by axis
Execution4 vs 3
Fallout: New Vegas leans a little harder on execution, though the gap is small.
Fallout: New Vegas
Shooter inputs with VATS assist
Scrap Mechanic
Basic movement and combat; building is unhurried.
Reads1 vs 0
Fallout: New Vegas leans a little harder on reads, though the gap is small.
Fallout: New Vegas
Scripted factions and enemies
Scrap Mechanic
Robot enemies are scripted and predictable.
Variance2 vs 3
Scrap Mechanic leans a little harder on variance, though the gap is small.
Fallout: New Vegas
Some loot and crit RNG
Scrap Mechanic
Survival mode loot and world generation add some randomness.
Optimization8 vs 8
Same score on optimization - which means the number cannot separate them. The difference is in what each one asks of you.
Fallout: New Vegas
Faction routing, perks, builds heavily rewarded
Scrap Mechanic
Logic gates, bearings and farm automation reward pure engineering.
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.