head to head
vs
Outer WildsvsShenzhen I/O
Outer Wilds leans Optimization (Pure Optimization); Shenzhen I/O leans Optimization (Pure Optimization).
Outer WildsShenzhen I/O
Axis by axis
Execution2 vs 1
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
Shenzhen I/O leans harder on optimization: Programming microcontrollers in minimal instructions to pass exact circuit specifications
Two games can score the same on an axis and still test it in very different ways - read each rationale, not just the number.