Building comparison
head to head
FAR: Changing TidesvsSpiritfarer
Neither is harder. They score identically on all four axes, so the difference between them is in kind, not degree.
FAR: Changing Tides
Optimization · Pure Optimization
Meditative sequel sailing and diving a hybrid ship through flooded ruins.
Spiritfarer
Optimization · Pure Optimization
A management game about ferrying spirits to the afterlife.
FAR: Changing Tides leans Optimization (Pure Optimization); Spiritfarer leans Optimization (Pure Optimization).
FAR: Changing TidesSpiritfarer
Axis by axis
Execution2 vs 2
Same score on execution - which means the number cannot separate them. The difference is in what each one asks of you.
FAR: Changing Tides
Simple swimming, climbing, and sail handling
Spiritfarer
Platforming is light and forgiving.
Reads0 vs 0
Same score on reads - which means the number cannot separate them. The difference is in what each one asks of you.
FAR: Changing Tides
Solo voyage with no adaptive opposition
Spiritfarer
Spirits follow scripted arcs.
Variance1 vs 1
Same score on variance - which means the number cannot separate them. The difference is in what each one asks of you.
FAR: Changing Tides
Set-piece obstacles, little randomness
Spiritfarer
Minor resource RNG.
Optimization5 vs 5
Same score on optimization - which means the number cannot separate them. The difference is in what each one asks of you.
FAR: Changing Tides
Managing sail, engine, and fuel loops efficiently
Spiritfarer
Boat layout and crafting loops reward planning.
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.