Building comparison
head to head
Pillars of EternityvsWasteland 2
Neither is meaningfully harder - they pose close to the same test. The widest gap is variance, and it is a single point.
Pillars of Eternity
Optimization · Pure Optimization
An original RPG system where engagement optimization and passive-stacking theory dominate hard-mode encounters.
Wasteland 2
Optimization · Pure Optimization
A post-apocalyptic tactics game where skill tag distribution and action economy control encounter outcomes.
Pillars of Eternity leans Optimization (Pure Optimization); Wasteland 2 leans Optimization (Pure Optimization).
Pillars of EternityWasteland 2
Axis by axis
Execution2 vs 2
Same score on execution - which means the number cannot separate them. The difference is in what each one asks of you.
Pillars of Eternity
Real-time-with-pause removes all twitch pressure from the player
Wasteland 2
Turn-based tactical combat has no twitch component
Reads1 vs 1
Same score on reads - which means the number cannot separate them. The difference is in what each one asks of you.
Pillars of Eternity
All AI opponents use fixed scripted behaviour trees
Wasteland 2
All enemy factions use scripted behaviour with no player adaptation
Variance4 vs 5
Wasteland 2 leans a little harder on variance, though the gap is small.
Pillars of Eternity
Hidden enemy immunities and ability distributions require investigation
Wasteland 2
Hidden skill check requirements and enemy placement create information gaps
Optimization9 vs 8
Pillars of Eternity leans a little harder on optimization, though the gap is small.
Pillars of Eternity
Per-encounter ability management and passive stacking define trial-of-iron mastery
Wasteland 2
Skill tag allocation and AP economy optimization define effective squads
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.