head to head
vs
Hearts of Iron IIvsPokémon Violet
Hearts of Iron II leans Optimization (Pure Optimization); Pokémon Violet leans Optimization (Pure Optimization).
Hearts of Iron IIPokémon Violet
Axis by axis
Execution1 vs 1
Even - both lean on execution about the same.
Reads3 vs 3
Even - both lean on reads about the same.
Variance3 vs 4
Pokémon Violet leans harder on variance: Encounters, IVs and catch rolls add managed randomness
Optimization9 vs 8
Hearts of Iron II leans harder on optimization: Production, research and front planning are deeply solvable systems
Two games can score the same on an axis and still test it in very different ways - read each rationale, not just the number.