Building comparison
head to head
HumankindvsPillars of Eternity
Neither is meaningfully harder - they pose close to the same test. The widest gap is reads, and it is a single point.
Humankind
Optimization · Pure Optimization
An optimisation puzzle about historical pathfinding against variable events.
Pillars of Eternity
Optimization · Pure Optimization
An original RPG system where engagement optimization and passive-stacking theory dominate hard-mode encounters.
Humankind leans Optimization (Pure Optimization); Pillars of Eternity leans Optimization (Pure Optimization).
HumankindPillars of Eternity
Axis by axis
Execution2 vs 2
Same score on execution - which means the number cannot separate them. The difference is in what each one asks of you.
Humankind
Micro-management speed matters little; macro is king.
Pillars of Eternity
Real-time-with-pause removes all twitch pressure from the player
Reads0 vs 1
Pillars of Eternity leans a little harder on reads, though the gap is small.
Humankind
AI opponents lack true adaptation; no human element.
Pillars of Eternity
All AI opponents use fixed scripted behaviour trees
Variance4 vs 4
Same score on variance - which means the number cannot separate them. The difference is in what each one asks of you.
Humankind
Era choices and event randomness create replayability.
Pillars of Eternity
Hidden enemy immunities and ability distributions require investigation
Optimization8 vs 9
Pillars of Eternity leans a little harder on optimization, though the gap is small.
Humankind
Dominating systems and cultures is a deep optimisation puzzle.
Pillars of Eternity
Per-encounter ability management and passive stacking define trial-of-iron mastery
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.