They really are totally different genres of game, and have different levels entirely of dedication involved.
LostWinds is very much a hands-on game where you control both the on-screen character and the very wind itself. You spend the game using the wind to affect both how that character (Toku) interacts with his world, and to change how the world around him is affected. It's a puzzle/platformer game through and through, and a good one at that.
FFCC:MLaK, on the other hand, is a micromanagement game. There's very little direct gameplay, as you basically send others to do the traditionally fun bits like dungeon crawling for you, while you just reap the rewards and build a city. It's a bit like SimCity in taht regard, but on an even more local level. And instead of automatic taxes to get funds you're telling people to go to monster-infested caves to gather resources. Same basic idea, different-yet-similar means of execution.
Sky Render - Sanity is for the weak.
