Building comparison
head to head
How to SurvivevsMoonlighter
Neither is harder. They score identically on all four axes, so the difference between them is in kind, not degree.
How to Survive
Optimization · Pure Optimization
Crafting-tree planning and needs management under light zombie pressure.
Moonlighter
Optimization · Pure Optimization
Roguelite about raiding dungeons by night and pricing the loot in your shop by day.
How to Survive leans Optimization (Pure Optimization); Moonlighter leans Optimization (Pure Optimization).
How to SurviveMoonlighter
Axis by axis
Execution4 vs 4
Same score on execution - which means the number cannot separate them. The difference is in what each one asks of you.
How to Survive
Twin-stick zombie kiting needs modest aim
Moonlighter
Dodge-heavy dungeon combat
Reads0 vs 0
Same score on reads - which means the number cannot separate them. The difference is in what each one asks of you.
How to Survive
Zombies are mindless scripted pressure
Moonlighter
Enemies are scripted patterns
Variance4 vs 4
Same score on variance - which means the number cannot separate them. The difference is in what each one asks of you.
How to Survive
Scavenged materials and island layouts are unknown until explored
Moonlighter
Random dungeon layouts and loot rolls
Optimization7 vs 7
Same score on optimization - which means the number cannot separate them. The difference is in what each one asks of you.
How to Survive
Crafting trees and needs management decide survival
Moonlighter
Price discovery and shop economy are the real game
A matching score does not mean a matching test. Two games can both sit at 10 on execution and demand completely different things of you - which is why the reasoning above matters more than the number beside it.