head to head
vs
Neverness to EvernessvsStarbound
Neverness to Everness leans Optimization (Practiced Mastery); Starbound leans Optimization (Pure Optimization).
Neverness to EvernessStarbound
Axis by axis
Execution4 vs 3
Neverness to Everness leans harder on execution: Action combat with dodges but generous gacha-game tuning
Reads0 vs 0
Even - both lean on reads about the same.
Variance4 vs 4
Even - both lean on variance about the same.
Optimization6 vs 7
Starbound leans harder on optimization: Gear tiers, farming, and progression routes dominate
Two games can score the same on an axis and still test it in very different ways - read each rationale, not just the number.