head to head
vs
Pokémon Mystery Dungeon: Explorers of DarknessvsSunless Sea
Pokémon Mystery Dungeon: Explorers of Darkness leans Optimization (Systems & Chaos); Sunless Sea leans Variance (Systems & Chaos).
Pokémon Mystery Dungeon: Explorers of DarknessSunless Sea
Axis by axis
Execution1 vs 1
Even - both lean on execution about the same.
Reads0 vs 0
Even - both lean on reads about the same.
Variance6 vs 7
Sunless Sea leans harder on variance: Hidden map, random events and unknown story branches dominate
Optimization7 vs 6
Pokémon Mystery Dungeon: Explorers of Darkness leans harder on optimization: Inventory management, type matchups and team prep tame the RNG
Two games can score the same on an axis and still test it in very different ways - read each rationale, not just the number.