head to head
vs
Kirby's Return to Dream LandvsSpiritfarer
Kirby's Return to Dream Land leans Optimization (Practiced Mastery); Spiritfarer leans Optimization (Pure Optimization).
Kirby's Return to Dream LandSpiritfarer
Axis by axis
Execution3 vs 2
Kirby's Return to Dream Land leans harder on execution: Easygoing main game; EX mode adds modest demands
Reads0 vs 0
Even - both lean on reads about the same.
Variance1 vs 1
Even - both lean on variance about the same.
Optimization4 vs 5
Spiritfarer leans harder on optimization: Boat layout and crafting loops reward 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.