Building comparison
head to head
RaftvsStranded Deep
Neither is meaningfully harder - they pose close to the same test. The widest gap is variance, and it is a single point.
Raft
Optimization · Pure Optimization
Growing a floating base by solving resource chains and research order against scripted ocean threats.
Stranded Deep
Optimization · Systems & Chaos
Solving a castaway survival loop on procedurally placed Pacific islands against condition decay.
Raft leans Optimization (Pure Optimization); Stranded Deep leans Optimization (Systems & Chaos).
RaftStranded Deep
Axis by axis
Execution2 vs 2
Same score on execution - which means the number cannot separate them. The difference is in what each one asks of you.
Raft
Shark hook-attacks require minimal timing
Stranded Deep
Shark combat and crafting need minimal twitch skill
Reads0 vs 0
Same score on reads - which means the number cannot separate them. The difference is in what each one asks of you.
Raft
Shark and seagull AI are scripted with no player modelling
Stranded Deep
Marine life follows scripted aggression thresholds only
Variance4 vs 5
Stranded Deep leans a little harder on variance, though the gap is small.
Raft
Island loot tables and resource drift introduce randomness
Stranded Deep
Island layouts, loot containers, and boss shark HP vary per seed
Optimization7 vs 6
Raft leans a little harder on optimization, though the gap is small.
Raft
Raft expansion, food chains, and research order are solvable systems
Stranded Deep
Water, food, and raft routing are the solvable survival loop
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.