head to head
vs
SatisfactoryvsThe Incredible Machine 3
Satisfactory leans Optimization (Pure Optimization); The Incredible Machine 3 leans Optimization (Pure Optimization).
SatisfactoryThe Incredible Machine 3
Axis by axis
Execution1 vs 1
Even - both lean on execution about the same.
Reads0 vs 0
Even - both lean on reads about the same.
Variance1 vs 1
Even - both lean on variance about the same.
Optimization10 vs 9
Satisfactory leans harder on optimization: Ratios, logistics, and factory layout are everything.
Two games can score the same on an axis and still test it in very different ways - read each rationale, not just the number.