head to head
vs
Nuclear ThronevsSpelunky
Nuclear Throne leans Execution (Twitch Chaos); Spelunky leans Execution (Twitch Chaos).
Nuclear ThroneSpelunky
Axis by axis
Execution8 vs 8
Even - both lean on execution about the same.
Reads0 vs 1
Spelunky leans harder on reads: Enemy AI is scripted; no adaptive opponents.
Variance6 vs 7
Spelunky leans harder on variance: Procedural caves and item rolls shape every run.
Optimization5 vs 6
Spelunky leans harder on optimization: Hell route and shortcuts reward solved knowledge.
Two games can score the same on an axis and still test it in very different ways - read each rationale, not just the number.