Building comparison
head to head
Penumbra: Black PlaguevsStarbound
Neither is meaningfully harder - they pose close to the same test. The widest gap is execution, and it is a single point.
Penumbra: Black Plague
Optimization · Systems & Chaos
Frictional's defenseless first-person horror where you solve physics puzzles while hiding from the infected.
Starbound
Optimization · Pure Optimization
A 2D sandbox of procedurally generated planets driven by crafting progression.
Penumbra: Black Plague leans Optimization (Systems & Chaos); Starbound leans Optimization (Pure Optimization).
Penumbra: Black PlagueStarbound
Axis by axis
Execution2 vs 3
Starbound leans a little harder on execution, though the gap is small.
Penumbra: Black Plague
Physics-grab interactions need only basic mouse control
Starbound
Light platforming and combat, generous margins
Reads0 vs 0
Same score on reads - which means the number cannot separate them. The difference is in what each one asks of you.
Penumbra: Black Plague
Infected patrol on scripts; hiding beats them every time
Starbound
Procedural NPCs follow simple fixed behaviours
Variance5 vs 4
Penumbra: Black Plague leans a little harder on variance, though the gap is small.
Penumbra: Black Plague
Unknown layouts, scares, and patrols on a blind run
Starbound
Procedural planets and loot keep early exploration unknown
Optimization7 vs 7
Same score on optimization - which means the number cannot separate them. The difference is in what each one asks of you.
Penumbra: Black Plague
Physics puzzles and evasion routes are fully solvable
Starbound
Gear tiers, farming, and progression routes dominate
A matching score does not mean a matching test. Two games can both sit at 10 on execution and demand completely different things of you - which is why the reasoning above matters more than the number beside it.