head to head
vs
Left 4 DeadvsReturnal
Left 4 Dead leans Execution (Twitch Chaos); Returnal leans Execution (Twitch Chaos).
Left 4 DeadReturnal
Axis by axis
Execution7 vs 8
Returnal leans harder on execution: Bullet-hell dodge and aim under pressure
Reads2 vs 2
Even - both lean on reads about the same.
Variance5 vs 7
Returnal leans harder on variance: Room layouts, parasites, items roguelike
Optimization5 vs 6
Returnal leans harder on optimization: Build synergies and route 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.