head to head
vs
Still LifevsZak McKracken and the Alien Mindbenders
Still Life leans Optimization (Pure Optimization); Zak McKracken and the Alien Mindbenders leans Optimization (Systems & Chaos).
Still LifeZak McKracken and the Alien Mindbenders
Axis by axis
Execution1 vs 0
Still Life leans harder on execution: Pointing and clicking carries no physical demand
Reads0 vs 0
Even - both lean on reads about the same.
Variance3 vs 4
Zak McKracken and the Alien Mindbenders leans harder on variance: Globe-trotting item requirements are obscure on first play.
Optimization6 vs 6
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.