head to head
vs
Sam & Max: Hit the RoadvsTouch Detective
Sam & Max: Hit the Road leans Optimization (Pure Optimization); Touch Detective leans Optimization (Pure Optimization).
Sam & Max: Hit the RoadTouch Detective
Axis by axis
Execution1 vs 1
Even - both lean on execution about the same.
Reads0 vs 1
Touch Detective leans harder on reads: No adaptive opponent in this mystery
Variance2 vs 2
Even - both lean on variance about the same.
Optimization8 vs 7
Sam & Max: Hit the Road leans harder on optimization: Absurdist puzzle chains are fully solvable with lateral thinking
Two games can score the same on an axis and still test it in very different ways - read each rationale, not just the number.