head to head
vs
Final Fantasy XVvsHorizon Zero Dawn
Final Fantasy XV leans Optimization (Practiced Mastery); Horizon Zero Dawn leans Execution (Practiced Mastery).
Final Fantasy XVHorizon Zero Dawn
Axis by axis
Execution4 vs 5
Horizon Zero Dawn leans harder on execution: Bow aiming and dodge timing matter.
Reads1 vs 1
Even - both lean on reads about the same.
Variance2 vs 2
Even - both lean on variance about the same.
Optimization6 vs 5
Final Fantasy XV leans harder on optimization: Ascension grid, magic crafting, party 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.