head to head
vs
IXIONvsStardew Valley
IXION leans Optimization (Pure Optimization); Stardew Valley leans Optimization (Pure Optimization).
IXIONStardew Valley
Axis by axis
Execution0 vs 1
Stardew Valley leans harder on execution: Trivial timing on fishing and combat
Reads0 vs 0
Even - both lean on reads about the same.
Variance3 vs 3
Even - both lean on variance about the same.
Optimization9 vs 8
IXION leans harder on optimization: Hull sectors, power, and population logistics dominate
Two games can score the same on an axis and still test it in very different ways - read each rationale, not just the number.