head to head
vs
NorthgardvsToribash
Northgard leans Optimization (Mind & Math); Toribash leans Reads (Mind & Math).
NorthgardToribash
Axis by axis
Execution4 vs 2
Northgard leans harder on execution: light micro under pressure
Reads5 vs 7
Toribash leans harder on reads: Predicting a human's next joint commitments
Variance3 vs 1
Northgard leans harder on variance: winters, wandering events
Optimization7 vs 7
Even - both lean on optimization about the same.
Two games can score the same on an axis and still test it in very different ways - read each rationale, not just the number.