head to head
vs
Heat SignaturevsThe Long Dark
Heat Signature leans Variance (Systems & Chaos); The Long Dark leans Optimization (Systems & Chaos).
Heat SignatureThe Long Dark
Axis by axis
Execution3 vs 2
Heat Signature leans harder on execution: Pause tool removes most dexterity pressure
Reads0 vs 0
Even - both lean on reads about the same.
Variance7 vs 6
Heat Signature leans harder on variance: Procedural ships, gear, and mission rolls
Optimization7 vs 7
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.