head to head
vs
Stranger of Sword CityvsTropico 5
Stranger of Sword City leans Optimization (Pure Optimization); Tropico 5 leans Optimization (Pure Optimization).
Stranger of Sword CityTropico 5
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.
Variance5 vs 4
Stranger of Sword City leans harder on variance: Encounter rolls, drops and permadeath risk shape runs
Optimization8 vs 8
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.