Building comparison
head to head
Last EpochvsRisk of Rain 2
Neither is meaningfully harder - they pose close to the same test. The widest gap is execution, and it is a single point.
Last Epoch
Optimization · Pure Optimization
An ARPG where build crafting and skill trees define success.
Risk of Rain 2
Optimization · Pure Optimization
A third-person roguelike where item snowballs outscale the difficulty timer.
Last Epoch leans Optimization (Pure Optimization); Risk of Rain 2 leans Optimization (Pure Optimization).
Last EpochRisk of Rain 2
Axis by axis
Execution4 vs 5
Risk of Rain 2 leans a little harder on execution, though the gap is small.
Last Epoch
Action combat, modest mechanical demands
Risk of Rain 2
Aim and movement matter under escalating swarm pressure.
Reads0 vs 0
Same score on reads - which means the number cannot separate them. The difference is in what each one asks of you.
Last Epoch
No adaptive opponents
Risk of Rain 2
Enemies follow fixed AI; no opponent models you.
Variance4 vs 5
Risk of Rain 2 leans a little harder on variance, though the gap is small.
Last Epoch
Loot affixes and crafting outcomes vary
Risk of Rain 2
Item drops and stage selection randomized each run.
Optimization9 vs 9
Same score on optimization - which means the number cannot separate them. The difference is in what each one asks of you.
Last Epoch
Build planning is the entire game
Risk of Rain 2
Item stacking and scaling routes dominate run outcomes.
A matching score does not mean a matching test. Two games can both sit at 10 on execution and demand completely different things of you - which is why the reasoning above matters more than the number beside it.