head to head
vs
Salt and SanctuaryvsSteamWorld Dig 2
Salt and Sanctuary leans Optimization (Practiced Mastery); SteamWorld Dig 2 leans Optimization (Practiced Mastery).
Salt and SanctuarySteamWorld Dig 2
Axis by axis
Execution6 vs 5
Salt and Sanctuary leans harder on execution: Souls-like timing in 2D
Reads2 vs 1
Salt and Sanctuary leans harder on reads: Scripted bosses with telegraphs
Variance2 vs 2
Even - both lean on variance about the same.
Optimization7 vs 7
Even - both lean on optimization about the same.
Two games can score the same on an axis and still test it in very different ways - read each rationale, not just the number.