head to head
vs
Grim FandangovsMystery Case Files: 13th Skull
Grim Fandango leans Optimization (Pure Optimization); Mystery Case Files: 13th Skull leans Optimization (Pure Optimization).
Grim FandangoMystery Case Files: 13th Skull
Axis by axis
Execution1 vs 1
Even - both lean on execution about the same.
Reads0 vs 1
Mystery Case Files: 13th Skull leans harder on reads: No adaptive opponent, puzzles are fixed
Variance2 vs 2
Even - both lean on variance about the same.
Optimization8 vs 7
Grim Fandango leans harder on optimization: Surreal multi-act puzzle chains demand patient causal reasoning
Two games can score the same on an axis and still test it in very different ways - read each rationale, not just the number.