Building comparison
head to head
Outer WildsvsPushmo World
Neither is meaningfully harder - they pose close to the same test. The widest gap is variance, and it is a single point.
Outer Wilds
Optimization · Pure Optimization
A knowledge-based mystery solved by mapping a deterministic solar system.
Pushmo World
Optimization · Pure Optimization
A block-pulling puzzle game about solving deterministic 3D climbing puzzles.
Outer Wilds leans Optimization (Pure Optimization); Pushmo World leans Optimization (Pure Optimization).
Outer WildsPushmo World
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.
Outer Wilds
Light piloting, mostly forgiving
Pushmo World
Pulling and climbing blocks demands no precision
Reads0 vs 0
Same score on reads - which means the number cannot separate them. The difference is in what each one asks of you.
Outer Wilds
World is fixed; nothing adapts to you
Pushmo World
Solo puzzle game with no opponent
Variance1 vs 0
Outer Wilds leans a little harder on variance, though the gap is small.
Outer Wilds
Loop is deterministic once understood
Pushmo World
Puzzles fully deterministic, nothing hidden randomly
Optimization9 vs 9
Same score on optimization - which means the number cannot separate them. The difference is in what each one asks of you.
Outer Wilds
Pure knowledge puzzle - solve the system
Pushmo World
Working out the pull sequence to climb is the whole game
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.