head to head
vs
Phoenix PointvsXCOM: Enemy Unknown
Phoenix Point leans Variance (Systems & Chaos); XCOM: Enemy Unknown leans Optimization (Systems & Chaos).
Phoenix PointXCOM: Enemy Unknown
Axis by axis
Execution4 vs 3
Phoenix Point leans harder on execution: Manual aiming system introduces real accuracy input on every shot
Reads1 vs 1
Even - both lean on reads about the same.
Variance7 vs 7
Even - both lean on variance about the same.
Optimization7 vs 8
XCOM: Enemy Unknown leans harder on optimization: Squad composition, research order, and base economy are 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.