Building comparison
head to head
Potion CraftvsThe Movies
Neither is harder. They score identically on all four axes, so the difference between them is in kind, not degree.
Potion Craft
Optimization · Pure Optimization
An alchemy sim where mapping the potion-crafting system is the entire game.
The Movies
Optimization · Pure Optimization
A studio-management economy puzzle dressed up as Hollywood moviemaking.
Potion Craft leans Optimization (Pure Optimization); The Movies leans Optimization (Pure Optimization).
Potion CraftThe Movies
Axis by axis
Execution1 vs 1
Same score on execution - which means the number cannot separate them. The difference is in what each one asks of you.
Potion Craft
no reflex skill, mostly menu-based crafting
The Movies
Menu and drag management, no dexterity test
Reads0 vs 0
Same score on reads - which means the number cannot separate them. The difference is in what each one asks of you.
Potion Craft
customers aren't adaptive opponents
The Movies
No adaptive rival studios to outwit
Variance2 vs 2
Same score on variance - which means the number cannot separate them. The difference is in what each one asks of you.
Potion Craft
ingredient rolls add some unpredictability
The Movies
Star moods and script rolls add light randomness
Optimization8 vs 8
Same score on optimization - which means the number cannot separate them. The difference is in what each one asks of you.
Potion Craft
potion-map navigation is a solvable system
The Movies
Studio economy, staffing and timing are the solvable core
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.