head to head
vs
StarsectorvsTotal War: Shogun 2
Starsector leans Optimization (Pure Optimization); Total War: Shogun 2 leans Optimization (Practiced Mastery).
StarsectorTotal War: Shogun 2
Axis by axis
Execution5 vs 6
Total War: Shogun 2 leans harder on execution: Samurai unit micro, zen arts timing, and castle sieges reward sharp play
Reads3 vs 3
Even - both lean on reads about the same.
Variance4 vs 4
Even - both lean on variance about the same.
Optimization9 vs 8
Starsector leans harder on optimization: Fleet building, trade economy and tactics are the depth
Two games can score the same on an axis and still test it in very different ways - read each rationale, not just the number.