Building comparison
head to head
Lisa: The PainfulvsThe Occupation
Neither is harder. They score identically on all four axes, so the difference between them is in kind, not degree.
Lisa: The Painful
Optimization · Pure Optimization
A bleak turn-based RPG where every gain costs you something permanent.
The Occupation
Optimization · Pure Optimization
Time-budgeted investigation that tests planning and routing under a real-time clock.
Lisa: The Painful leans Optimization (Pure Optimization); The Occupation leans Optimization (Pure Optimization).
Lisa: The PainfulThe Occupation
Axis by axis
Execution2 vs 2
Same score on execution - which means the number cannot separate them. The difference is in what each one asks of you.
Lisa: The Painful
Timed button inputs spice up turn combat
The Occupation
Sneaking inputs are simple; pressure comes from the clock
Reads0 vs 0
Same score on reads - which means the number cannot separate them. The difference is in what each one asks of you.
Lisa: The Painful
No adaptive opposition
The Occupation
Guards patrol on schedules, not adaptive minds
Variance3 vs 3
Same score on variance - which means the number cannot separate them. The difference is in what each one asks of you.
Lisa: The Painful
Russian roulette and permanent random losses
The Occupation
Document locations and guard timings are unknown first run
Optimization7 vs 7
Same score on optimization - which means the number cannot separate them. The difference is in what each one asks of you.
Lisa: The Painful
Party builds and sacrifice decisions are strategic
The Occupation
Routing four real-time hours of investigation optimally is the test
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.