head to head
vs
PixelJunk Monsters 2vsSteamWorld Heist
PixelJunk Monsters 2 leans Optimization (Pure Optimization); SteamWorld Heist leans Optimization (Pure Optimization).
PixelJunk Monsters 2SteamWorld Heist
Axis by axis
Execution3 vs 4
SteamWorld Heist leans harder on execution: Manual aim and ricochet shots reward steady hands
Reads0 vs 0
Even - both lean on reads about the same.
Variance3 vs 3
Even - both lean on variance about the same.
Optimization8 vs 7
PixelJunk Monsters 2 leans harder on optimization: Tower placement and upgrade paths are deeply 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.