head to head
Neither is simply harder - they are hard in different places. AquaNox demands more execution; The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt demands more optimization.

Execution · Practiced Mastery
Underwater dogfighting testing piloting and aim through scripted missions.

Optimization · Practiced Mastery
A narrative action RPG where build planning matters more than reflex execution.
AquaNox leans Execution (Practiced Mastery); The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt leans Optimization (Practiced Mastery).
AquaNox leans clearly harder on execution.
AquaNox
Six-degree underwater dogfighting demands piloting and aim
The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt
Combat timing matters but generous dodges forgive sloppy play.
Same score on reads - which means the number cannot separate them. The difference is in what each one asks of you.
AquaNox
Mission enemies attack on fixed scripts
The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt
Enemies use fixed AI behaviours; no adaptation.
The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt leans a little harder on variance, though the gap is small.
AquaNox
Missions play out identically each attempt
The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt
Loot rolls and minor combat variance only.
The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt leans clearly harder on optimization.
AquaNox
Ship loadout and weapon choice add modest planning
The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt
Builds, alchemy, and quest routing 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.