head to head
Neither is meaningfully harder - they pose close to the same test. The widest gap is variance, and it is a single point.

Optimization · Pure Optimization
A sci-fi mystery that splits across thirteen protagonists' stories, backed by light real-time strategy battles.

Optimization · Pure Optimization
A management game about ferrying spirits to the afterlife.
13 Sentinels: Aegis Rim leans Optimization (Pure Optimization); Spiritfarer leans Optimization (Pure Optimization).
Same score on execution - which means the number cannot separate them. The difference is in what each one asks of you.
13 Sentinels: Aegis Rim
Real-time strategy battles have light unit-control inputs
Spiritfarer
Platforming is light and forgiving.
Same score on reads - which means the number cannot separate them. The difference is in what each one asks of you.
13 Sentinels: Aegis Rim
Kaiju wave patterns are scripted per stage
Spiritfarer
Spirits follow scripted arcs.
13 Sentinels: Aegis Rim leans a little harder on variance, though the gap is small.
13 Sentinels: Aegis Rim
Hidden story order and mystery connections obscure the full picture
Spiritfarer
Minor resource RNG.
13 Sentinels: Aegis Rim leans a little harder on optimization, though the gap is small.
13 Sentinels: Aegis Rim
Optimising battle chip builds and unlocking all story segments is the mechanical layer
Spiritfarer
Boat layout and crafting loops reward planning.
A matching score does not mean a matching test. Two games can both sit at 10 on execution and demand completely different things of you - which is why the reasoning above matters more than the number beside it.