head to head
vs
The Next Big ThingvsThe Sims 4
The Next Big Thing leans Optimization (Pure Optimization); The Sims 4 leans Optimization (Pure Optimization).
The Next Big ThingThe Sims 4
Axis by axis
Execution0 vs 1
The Sims 4 leans harder on execution: no physical skill ceiling at all
Reads0 vs 0
Even - both lean on reads about the same.
Variance2 vs 1
The Next Big Thing leans harder on variance: Puzzle solutions hide only until uncovered
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.