head to head
vs
Kerbal Space ProgramvsNo Man's Sky
Kerbal Space Program leans Optimization (Pure Optimization); No Man's Sky leans Optimization (Pure Optimization).
Kerbal Space ProgramNo Man's Sky
Axis by axis
Execution5 vs 3
Kerbal Space Program leans harder on execution: Manual piloting, docking precision
Reads0 vs 0
Even - both lean on reads about the same.
Variance2 vs 3
No Man's Sky leans harder on variance: Procedural planets and loot
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.