head to head
vs
Plague Inc.vsUniversal Paperclips
Plague Inc. leans Optimization (Pure Optimization); Universal Paperclips leans Optimization (Pure Optimization).
Plague Inc.Universal Paperclips
Axis by axis
Execution0 vs 0
Even - both lean on execution about the same.
Reads0 vs 0
Even - both lean on reads about the same.
Variance3 vs 2
Plague Inc. leans harder on variance: Spread events and cure pace fluctuate
Optimization8 vs 9
Universal Paperclips leans harder on optimization: Resource allocation and phase timing are near-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.