Building comparison
head to head
Return of the Obra DinnvsThe Witness
Neither is harder. They score identically on all four axes, so the difference between them is in kind, not degree.
Return of the Obra Dinn
Optimization · Pure Optimization
A pure deduction puzzle with a single solvable answer set.
The Witness
Optimization · Pure Optimization
A puzzle island where learning each panel's hidden language solves everything.
Return of the Obra Dinn leans Optimization (Pure Optimization); The Witness leans Optimization (Pure Optimization).
Return of the Obra DinnThe Witness
Axis by axis
Execution0 vs 0
Same score on execution - which means the number cannot separate them. The difference is in what each one asks of you.
Return of the Obra Dinn
No mechanical execution required
The Witness
No reflex demands; line drawing only.
Reads0 vs 0
Same score on reads - which means the number cannot separate them. The difference is in what each one asks of you.
Return of the Obra Dinn
Static scenes, no opponent
The Witness
No opponent; island is static.
Variance0 vs 0
Same score on variance - which means the number cannot separate them. The difference is in what each one asks of you.
Return of the Obra Dinn
Fully deterministic puzzle
The Witness
Puzzles deterministic with no randomness.
Optimization10 vs 10
Same score on optimization - which means the number cannot separate them. The difference is in what each one asks of you.
Return of the Obra Dinn
Pure deductive logic on a fixed manifest
The Witness
Decoding the rule systems IS the whole game.
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.