head to head
vs
Riven: The Sequel to MystvsSam & Max: Hit the Road
Riven: The Sequel to Myst leans Optimization (Pure Optimization); Sam & Max: Hit the Road leans Optimization (Pure Optimization).
Riven: The Sequel to MystSam & Max: Hit the Road
Axis by axis
Execution0 vs 1
Sam & Max: Hit the Road leans harder on execution: Cursor-driven; no reflexes tested at any point
Reads0 vs 0
Even - both lean on reads about the same.
Variance0 vs 2
Sam & Max: Hit the Road leans harder on variance: Carnival mini-games add slight randomness but are trivial
Optimization9 vs 8
Riven: The Sequel to Myst leans harder on optimization: pure logic-puzzle solving, walkthrough-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.