head to head
vs
Penumbra: Black PlaguevsThe Exit 8
Penumbra: Black Plague leans Optimization (Systems & Chaos); The Exit 8 leans Optimization (Systems & Chaos).
Penumbra: Black PlagueThe Exit 8
Axis by axis
Execution2 vs 1
Penumbra: Black Plague leans harder on execution: Physics-grab interactions need only basic mouse control
Reads0 vs 0
Even - both lean on reads about the same.
Variance5 vs 5
Even - both lean on variance about the same.
Optimization7 vs 6
Penumbra: Black Plague leans harder on optimization: Physics puzzles and evasion routes are fully 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.