head to head
vs
Penumbra: Black PlaguevsStarbound
Penumbra: Black Plague leans Optimization (Systems & Chaos); Starbound leans Optimization (Pure Optimization).
Penumbra: Black PlagueStarbound
Axis by axis
Execution2 vs 3
Starbound leans harder on execution: Light platforming and combat, generous margins
Reads0 vs 0
Even - both lean on reads about the same.
Variance5 vs 4
Penumbra: Black Plague leans harder on variance: Unknown layouts, scares, and patrols on a blind run
Optimization7 vs 7
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.