head to head
vs
Recettear: An Item Shop's TalevsTorchlight II
Recettear: An Item Shop's Tale leans Optimization (Pure Optimization); Torchlight II leans Optimization (Pure Optimization).
Recettear: An Item Shop's TaleTorchlight II
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.
Variance4 vs 5
Torchlight II leans harder on variance: Loot rolls and random maps drive the chase
Optimization9 vs 8
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.