head to head
vs
Five DatesvsLittle Inferno
Five Dates leans Variance (Light / Casual); Little Inferno leans Optimization (Light / Casual).
Five DatesLittle Inferno
Axis by axis
Execution0 vs 0
Even - both lean on execution about the same.
Reads1 vs 0
Five Dates leans harder on reads: Filmed characters follow fixed branches, not adapting minds
Variance3 vs 1
Five Dates leans harder on variance: Unknown character reactions until branches are explored
Optimization2 vs 3
Little Inferno leans harder on optimization: Finding burn combos is a light solvable layer
Two games can score the same on an axis and still test it in very different ways - read each rationale, not just the number.