A hole is not a score
In stroke play every stroke counts toward a cumulative total, so a single disastrous hole can define an entire round. In match play, the same disaster only costs one hole, because the format only records whether a hole was won, lost or halved. A player who takes eight strokes on a hole loses it exactly as they would by taking six, which fundamentally changes how much a single mistake is allowed to matter across a match.
How that changes risk
Because the downside of a poor hole is capped, match play tends to reward bolder decisions than stroke play does. A player can attack a flag knowing that even a bad outcome only loses one hole rather than adding several shots to a running total that must be defended for another eighteen holes. This is why match play produces more dramatic, all-or-nothing swings, and why players known for cautious stroke-play strategy sometimes play visibly differently once the format changes.
Consistency versus nerve
Stroke play rewards a player who avoids big numbers over four rounds, since one calamitous hole on any day can erase days of good work. Match play instead rewards someone who can produce their best golf under direct, immediate pressure against a single opponent, even if their overall game is less consistent. Neither format is a purer test of skill; they are simply testing different skills, which is why some players excel at one and struggle in the other.