head to head
vs
Project ZomboidvsRecettear: An Item Shop's Tale
Project Zomboid leans Optimization (Pure Optimization); Recettear: An Item Shop's Tale leans Optimization (Pure Optimization).
Project ZomboidRecettear: An Item Shop's Tale
Axis by axis
Execution3 vs 3
Even - both lean on execution about the same.
Reads0 vs 0
Even - both lean on reads about the same.
Variance5 vs 4
Project Zomboid leans harder on variance: Loot spawns and zombie distributions randomized.
Optimization8 vs 9
Recettear: An Item Shop's Tale leans harder on optimization: Pricing margins, stock, and debt schedule are nearly 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.