head to head
vs
Outer WildsvsSpace Engineers
Outer Wilds leans Optimization (Pure Optimization); Space Engineers leans Optimization (Pure Optimization).
Outer WildsSpace Engineers
Axis by axis
Execution2 vs 2
Even - both lean on execution about the same.
Reads0 vs 1
Space Engineers leans harder on reads: PvP servers exist but engineering decides outcomes
Variance1 vs 2
Space Engineers leans harder on variance: Asteroid resources unknown until surveyed
Optimization9 vs 9
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.