head to head
vs
Outer WildsvsReturn of the Obra Dinn
Outer Wilds leans Optimization (Pure Optimization); Return of the Obra Dinn leans Optimization (Pure Optimization).
Outer WildsReturn of the Obra Dinn
Axis by axis
Execution2 vs 0
Outer Wilds leans harder on execution: Light piloting, mostly forgiving
Reads0 vs 0
Even - both lean on reads about the same.
Variance1 vs 0
Outer Wilds leans harder on variance: Loop is deterministic once understood
Optimization9 vs 10
Return of the Obra Dinn leans harder on optimization: Pure deductive logic on a fixed manifest
Two games can score the same on an axis and still test it in very different ways - read each rationale, not just the number.