head to head
vs
Papers, PleasevsSteamWorld Dig
Papers, Please leans Optimization (Pure Optimization); SteamWorld Dig leans Optimization (Practiced Mastery).
Papers, PleaseSteamWorld Dig
Axis by axis
Execution4 vs 4
Even - both lean on execution about the same.
Reads0 vs 0
Even - both lean on reads about the same.
Variance4 vs 4
Even - both lean on variance about the same.
Optimization7 vs 6
Papers, Please leans harder on optimization: Internalizing rulebooks and inspection workflow efficiency
Two games can score the same on an axis and still test it in very different ways - read each rationale, not just the number.