head to head
vs
Layton Brothers: Mystery RoomvsThe Sims
Layton Brothers: Mystery Room leans Optimization (Pure Optimization); The Sims leans Optimization (Pure Optimization).
Layton Brothers: Mystery RoomThe Sims
Axis by axis
Execution1 vs 1
Even - both lean on execution about the same.
Reads1 vs 0
Layton Brothers: Mystery Room leans harder on reads: No adaptive opponent; suspects follow scripts
Variance2 vs 2
Even - both lean on variance about the same.
Optimization7 vs 6
Layton Brothers: Mystery Room leans harder on optimization: Deducing the solution from fixed evidence is the core
Two games can score the same on an axis and still test it in very different ways - read each rationale, not just the number.