head to head
vs
Grand KingdomvsRome: Total War
Grand Kingdom leans Optimization (Pure Optimization); Rome: Total War leans Optimization (Pure Optimization).
Grand KingdomRome: Total War
Axis by axis
Execution2 vs 3
Rome: Total War leans harder on execution: Real-time battle micro rewards quick unit handling
Reads2 vs 2
Even - both lean on reads about the same.
Variance3 vs 2
Grand Kingdom leans harder on variance: Enemy squad compositions are hidden until engagement
Optimization8 vs 8
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.