head to head
vs
Kerbal Space ProgramvsMount & Blade: Warband
Kerbal Space Program leans Optimization (Pure Optimization); Mount & Blade: Warband leans Optimization (Pure Optimization).
Kerbal Space ProgramMount & Blade: Warband
Axis by axis
Execution5 vs 5
Even - both lean on execution about the same.
Reads0 vs 2
Mount & Blade: Warband leans harder on reads: Multiplayer melee involves human feint-reading
Variance2 vs 3
Mount & Blade: Warband leans harder on variance: Emergent campaign events and lord politics
Optimization10 vs 8
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.