head to head
vs
Sonic ManiavsSuper Mario Bros. 35
Sonic Mania leans Execution (Practiced Mastery); Super Mario Bros. 35 leans Execution (Pure Mechanics).
Sonic ManiaSuper Mario Bros. 35
Axis by axis
Execution7 vs 8
Super Mario Bros. 35 leans harder on execution: Speedy precise platforming under a draining timer decides survival
Reads1 vs 2
Super Mario Bros. 35 leans harder on reads: Opponents matter but interaction is indirect enemy-sending
Variance2 vs 4
Super Mario Bros. 35 leans harder on variance: Which enemies arrive from rivals randomises your lane
Optimization5 vs 5
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.