Building comparison
head to head
Borderlands 2vsDiablo III
Neither is meaningfully harder - they pose close to the same test. The widest gap is execution, and it is a single point.
Borderlands 2
Optimization · Systems & Chaos
Loot-shooter RPG built on gear chasing.
Diablo III
Optimization · Pure Optimization
A pure loot-and-build treadmill where set-bonus optimisation and Rift pushing define performance.
Borderlands 2 leans Optimization (Systems & Chaos); Diablo III leans Optimization (Pure Optimization).
Borderlands 2Diablo III
Axis by axis
Execution5 vs 4
Borderlands 2 leans a little harder on execution, though the gap is small.
Borderlands 2
Aim matters but generous hit feel
Diablo III
Greater Rift pushing has minor mechanical demand in builds
Reads1 vs 1
Same score on reads - which means the number cannot separate them. The difference is in what each one asks of you.
Borderlands 2
Enemies are scripted loot fodder
Diablo III
No meaningful adaptive opponent; co-op is cooperative
Variance6 vs 5
Borderlands 2 leans a little harder on variance, though the gap is small.
Borderlands 2
Procedurally generated weapon drops vary
Diablo III
Primal Ancient drops and set dungeon RNG drive the grind
Optimization8 vs 9
Diablo III leans a little harder on optimization, though the gap is small.
Borderlands 2
Skill trees and gear math heavily solved
Diablo III
Set bonuses and paragon levelling are almost entirely solvable
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.