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
Handheld tactics RPG adding a shifting law system to grid battles.

Optimization · Pure Optimization
Optimizing game development decisions around hidden genre-topic match formulas to maximize review scores and revenue.
Final Fantasy Tactics Advance leans Optimization (Pure Optimization); Game Dev Tycoon 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.
Final Fantasy Tactics Advance
Turn-based grid commands only
Game Dev Tycoon
All choices are menu clicks with no physical ceiling
Same score on reads - which means the number cannot separate them. The difference is in what each one asks of you.
Final Fantasy Tactics Advance
Scripted opponents, judge rules are fixed
Game Dev Tycoon
No adaptive human competitor to model
Same score on variance - which means the number cannot separate them. The difference is in what each one asks of you.
Final Fantasy Tactics Advance
Random laws and hit rolls
Game Dev Tycoon
Review scores and trend timing have meaningful randomness
Same score on optimization - which means the number cannot separate them. The difference is in what each one asks of you.
Final Fantasy Tactics Advance
Race-job ability combos reward deep planning
Game Dev Tycoon
Genre-topic-audience matching and R&D investment are learnable formulas
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.