head to head
Neither is harder. They score identically on all four axes, so the difference between them is in kind, not degree.

Optimization · Pure Optimization
A tower-defense hybrid about summoning units and upgrading to survive waves.

Optimization · Pure Optimization
A spiritual successor to classic Castlevania metroidvanias.
Bardbarian leans Optimization (Pure Optimization); Bloodstained: Ritual of the Night 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.
Bardbarian
Movement dodging matters but isn't the lead
Bloodstained: Ritual of the Night
Action combat with modest demands
Same score on reads - which means the number cannot separate them. The difference is in what each one asks of you.
Bardbarian
Enemy waves are scripted, not adaptive
Bloodstained: Ritual of the Night
Scripted bosses
Same score on variance - which means the number cannot separate them. The difference is in what each one asks of you.
Bardbarian
Wave composition and drops vary somewhat
Bloodstained: Ritual of the Night
Shard and crafting drops
Same score on optimization - which means the number cannot separate them. The difference is in what each one asks of you.
Bardbarian
Summoning units and upgrade choices win waves
Bloodstained: Ritual of the Night
Shard builds and crafting routes
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.