head to head

Pathfinder: Kingmaker cover artvsPillars of Eternity cover art

Pathfinder: KingmakervsPillars of Eternity

Pathfinder: Kingmaker leans Optimization (Pure Optimization); Pillars of Eternity leans Optimization (Pure Optimization).

EXECUTION2 /10READS1 /10VARIANCE5 /10OPTIMIZATION10 /10
Pathfinder: KingmakerPillars of Eternity

Axis by axis

Execution2 vs 2

Even - both lean on execution about the same.

Reads1 vs 1

Even - both lean on reads about the same.

Variance5 vs 4

Pathfinder: Kingmaker leans harder on variance: Hidden ability check thresholds and timed kingdom deadlines create unknowns

Optimization10 vs 9

Pathfinder: Kingmaker leans harder on optimization: Pathfinder feat chains and kingdom management routing have known optimal solutions

Two games can score the same on an axis and still test it in very different ways - read each rationale, not just the number.

full breakdown

Pathfinder: Kingmaker

full breakdown

Pillars of Eternity