Building comparison
head to head
SteamWorld HeistvsTransistor
Neither is meaningfully harder - they pose close to the same test. The widest gap is reads, and it is a single point.
SteamWorld Heist
Optimization · Pure Optimization
Side-on turn-based tactics where you manually aim ricocheting bullets for a steambot pirate crew.
Transistor
Optimization · Pure Optimization
A hybrid real-time and tactical action RPG in a digital city.
SteamWorld Heist leans Optimization (Pure Optimization); Transistor leans Optimization (Pure Optimization).
SteamWorld HeistTransistor
Axis by axis
Execution4 vs 4
Same score on execution - which means the number cannot separate them. The difference is in what each one asks of you.
SteamWorld Heist
Manual aim and ricochet shots reward steady hands
Transistor
Real-time and planned hybrid combat.
Reads0 vs 1
Transistor leans a little harder on reads, though the gap is small.
SteamWorld Heist
Enemy bots follow fixed behaviors
Transistor
Process enemies follow scripts.
Variance3 vs 2
SteamWorld Heist leans a little harder on variance, though the gap is small.
SteamWorld Heist
Procedural ship layouts and loot drops
Transistor
Limited randomness.
Optimization7 vs 7
Same score on optimization - which means the number cannot separate them. The difference is in what each one asks of you.
SteamWorld Heist
Crew builds, weapon picks, and turn routing carry runs
Transistor
Function loadouts have deep optimization.
A matching score does not mean a matching test. Two games can both sit at 10 on execution and demand completely different things of you - which is why the reasoning above matters more than the number beside it.