head to head
vs
HadesvsReturnal
Hades leans Optimization (Practiced Mastery); Returnal leans Execution (Twitch Chaos).
HadesReturnal
Axis by axis
Execution7 vs 8
Returnal leans harder on execution: Bullet-hell dodge and aim under pressure
Reads1 vs 2
Returnal leans harder on reads: Bosses scripted, patterns not adaptive
Variance5 vs 7
Returnal leans harder on variance: Room layouts, parasites, items roguelike
Optimization8 vs 6
Hades leans harder on optimization: Build synergies and weapon aspects are deep solvable theory.
Two games can score the same on an axis and still test it in very different ways - read each rationale, not just the number.