Building comparison
head to head
Icewind DalevsSurviving the Aftermath
Neither is harder. They score identically on all four axes, so the difference between them is in kind, not degree.
Icewind Dale
Optimization · Pure Optimization
Combat-focused Infinity Engine RPG built on D&D party optimization.
Surviving the Aftermath
Optimization · Pure Optimization
Post-apocalyptic colony management with world-map expeditions.
Icewind Dale leans Optimization (Pure Optimization); Surviving the Aftermath leans Optimization (Pure Optimization).
Icewind DaleSurviving the Aftermath
Axis by axis
Execution1 vs 1
Same score on execution - which means the number cannot separate them. The difference is in what each one asks of you.
Icewind Dale
Pausable real-time needs little dexterity
Surviving the Aftermath
no reflex
Reads0 vs 0
Same score on reads - which means the number cannot separate them. The difference is in what each one asks of you.
Icewind Dale
Enemies follow fixed AI scripts
Surviving the Aftermath
no adversary
Variance4 vs 4
Same score on variance - which means the number cannot separate them. The difference is in what each one asks of you.
Icewind Dale
D&D dice rolls and random loot tables
Surviving the Aftermath
weather, raids, world events
Optimization8 vs 8
Same score on optimization - which means the number cannot separate them. The difference is in what each one asks of you.
Icewind Dale
Party builds, spell prep, and encounter knowledge
Surviving the Aftermath
colony layout and specialists
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.