head to head
vs
Papers, PleasevsThief: Deadly Shadows
Papers, Please leans Optimization (Pure Optimization); Thief: Deadly Shadows leans Optimization (Pure Optimization).
Papers, PleaseThief: Deadly Shadows
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 3
Papers, Please leans harder on variance: Random entrant documents and scripted-event surprises
Optimization7 vs 8
Thief: Deadly Shadows leans harder on optimization: Light, sound, and route mastery makes ghosting solvable
Two games can score the same on an axis and still test it in very different ways - read each rationale, not just the number.