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 prehistoric settlement survival builder about guiding a tribe from stone age to iron age.

Optimization · Pure Optimization
Lane defense classic about managing a sun economy against shambling waves.
Dawn of Man leans Optimization (Pure Optimization); Plants vs. Zombies 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.
Dawn of Man
Light real-time camera and command work only.
Plants vs. Zombies
Clicking to plant, minimal pressure
Same score on reads - which means the number cannot separate them. The difference is in what each one asks of you.
Dawn of Man
Raiders and animals follow scripted, predictable behaviour.
Plants vs. Zombies
Zombie waves follow set compositions
Same score on variance - which means the number cannot separate them. The difference is in what each one asks of you.
Dawn of Man
Raid timing, weather and animal migrations add unknowns.
Plants vs. Zombies
Wave timing and lane pressure vary mildly
Same score on optimization - which means the number cannot separate them. The difference is in what each one asks of you.
Dawn of Man
Tech progression, food logistics and settlement layout decide survival.
Plants vs. Zombies
Sun economy and lane setups are near-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.