Building comparison
head to head
PilgrimsvsPortal
Neither is simply harder - they are hard in different places. Pilgrims demands more variance; Portal demands more execution.
Pilgrims
Optimization · Pure Optimization
Tests playful experimentation with item combinations across a small storybook world.
Portal
Optimization · Pure Optimization
The portal-gun puzzle game whose solutions are everything.
Pilgrims leans Optimization (Pure Optimization); Portal leans Optimization (Pure Optimization).
PilgrimsPortal
Axis by axis
Execution1 vs 4
Portal leans clearly harder on execution.
Pilgrims
Playing cards on scenes takes no dexterity
Portal
Portal placement timing modest.
Reads0 vs 0
Same score on reads - which means the number cannot separate them. The difference is in what each one asks of you.
Pilgrims
Charming NPCs react predictably, never adapt
Portal
No adversary modeling player.
Variance2 vs 0
Pilgrims leans clearly harder on variance.
Pilgrims
Outcomes are scripted-but-unknown until experimented with
Portal
Deterministic chambers; no randomness.
Optimization5 vs 8
Portal leans clearly harder on optimization.
Pilgrims
Finding multiple item-combination solutions is the whole game
Portal
Pure puzzle-solving optimization.
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.