head to head
vs
Horizon Forbidden WestvsThe Vagrant
Horizon Forbidden West leans Optimization (Practiced Mastery); The Vagrant leans Execution (Practiced Mastery).
Horizon Forbidden WestThe Vagrant
Axis by axis
Execution5 vs 6
The Vagrant leans harder on execution: Combo chains, charge attacks and dodge timing drive combat
Reads1 vs 0
Horizon Forbidden West leans harder on reads: Machines remain scripted, not adaptive.
Variance2 vs 2
Even - both lean on variance about the same.
Optimization6 vs 6
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.