Building comparison
head to head
BorderlandsvsSteamWorld Dig
Neither is meaningfully harder - they pose close to the same test. The widest gap is execution, and it is a single point.
Borderlands
Optimization · Practiced Mastery
The original loot-driven co-op shooter set on the bandit world of Pandora.
SteamWorld Dig
Optimization · Practiced Mastery
Routing efficient digs and upgrades through a randomised mine.
Borderlands leans Optimization (Practiced Mastery); SteamWorld Dig leans Optimization (Practiced Mastery).
BorderlandsSteamWorld Dig
Axis by axis
Execution5 vs 4
Borderlands leans a little harder on execution, though the gap is small.
Borderlands
Standard FPS aim; numbers matter more than precision
SteamWorld Dig
Digging and platforming need modest precision
Reads0 vs 0
Same score on reads - which means the number cannot separate them. The difference is in what each one asks of you.
Borderlands
Bandits and skags are scripted
SteamWorld Dig
Enemies follow simple fixed patterns
Variance4 vs 4
Same score on variance - which means the number cannot separate them. The difference is in what each one asks of you.
Borderlands
Procedural loot drops gate your power
SteamWorld Dig
Randomised mine layouts hide ore and hazards each run
Optimization6 vs 6
Same score on optimization - which means the number cannot separate them. The difference is in what each one asks of you.
Borderlands
Builds, gear math, and farming routes dominate
SteamWorld Dig
Upgrade routing and efficient dig paths drive progress
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.