head to head
vs
Kerbal Space ProgramvsMedieval II: Total War
Kerbal Space Program leans Optimization (Pure Optimization); Medieval II: Total War leans Optimization (Pure Optimization).
Kerbal Space ProgramMedieval II: Total War
Axis by axis
Execution5 vs 2
Kerbal Space Program leans harder on execution: Manual piloting, docking precision
Reads0 vs 1
Medieval II: Total War leans harder on reads: campaign AI is exploitable and mappable
Variance2 vs 3
Medieval II: Total War leans harder on variance: fog of war and event triggers hide some state
Optimization10 vs 9
Kerbal Space Program leans harder on optimization: Rocket design, delta-v budget, mission planning
Two games can score the same on an axis and still test it in very different ways - read each rationale, not just the number.