head to head
vs
GothicvsShadows: Awakening
Gothic leans Optimization (Pure Optimization); Shadows: Awakening leans Optimization (Pure Optimization).
GothicShadows: Awakening
Axis by axis
Execution4 vs 3
Gothic leans harder on execution: Clunky but learnable directional melee timing
Reads0 vs 0
Even - both lean on reads about the same.
Variance3 vs 4
Shadows: Awakening leans harder on variance: Loot randomness and puzzle-light exploration
Optimization7 vs 7
Even - both lean on optimization about the same.
Two games can score the same on an axis and still test it in very different ways - read each rationale, not just the number.