head to head
vs
Half DeadvsRoad 96
Half Dead leans Variance (Systems & Chaos); Road 96 leans Variance (Systems & Chaos).
Half DeadRoad 96
Axis by axis
Execution2 vs 2
Even - both lean on execution about the same.
Reads3 vs 1
Half Dead leans harder on reads: Multiplayer guessing of safe rooms reads other players slightly
Variance7 vs 6
Half Dead leans harder on variance: Hidden deadly rooms are randomized each playthrough
Optimization5 vs 4
Half Dead leans harder on optimization: Deducing trap rooms from clues becomes systematic
Two games can score the same on an axis and still test it in very different ways - read each rationale, not just the number.