head to head
vs
Outer WildsvsX3: Reunion
Outer Wilds leans Optimization (Pure Optimization); X3: Reunion leans Optimization (Pure Optimization).
Outer WildsX3: Reunion
Axis by axis
Execution2 vs 2
Even - both lean on execution about the same.
Reads0 vs 0
Even - both lean on reads about the same.
Variance1 vs 2
X3: Reunion leans harder on variance: Market states are scripted-but-unknown until scouted
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.