Building comparison
head to head
Fallout: New VegasvsThief: The Dark Project
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.
Thief: The Dark Project
Optimization · Pure Optimization
A stealth game demanding meticulous route planning and equipment management to avoid guards who cannot be reliably fought.
Fallout: New Vegas leans Optimization (Pure Optimization); Thief: The Dark Project leans Optimization (Pure Optimization).
Fallout: New VegasThief: The Dark Project
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
Thief: The Dark Project
Combat is deliberately weak; sword timing matters only as last resort
Reads1 vs 0
Fallout: New Vegas leans a little harder on reads, though the gap is small.
Fallout: New Vegas
Scripted factions and enemies
Thief: The Dark Project
Guards use scripted patrol routes with no adaptive player modelling
Variance2 vs 3
Thief: The Dark Project leans a little harder on variance, though the gap is small.
Fallout: New Vegas
Some loot and crit RNG
Thief: The Dark Project
Guard alert states and random patrol timings introduce mission variance
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
Thief: The Dark Project
Route planning, equipment loadout, and objective prioritisation are deeply solvable
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.