Building comparison
head to head
Ghosts 'n GoblinsvsNex Machina
Neither is meaningfully harder - they pose close to the same test. The widest gap is execution, and it is a single point.
Ghosts 'n Goblins
Execution · Pure Mechanics
Capcom's infamously punishing arcade platformer that makes you beat it twice for the real ending.
Nex Machina
Execution · Practiced Mastery
A twin-stick arcade shooter where flawless movement through layered projectile patterns and human-rescue routing is the skill ceiling.
Ghosts 'n Goblins leans Execution (Pure Mechanics); Nex Machina leans Execution (Practiced Mastery).
Ghosts 'n GoblinsNex Machina
Axis by axis
Execution9 vs 8
Ghosts 'n Goblins leans a little harder on execution, though the gap is small.
Ghosts 'n Goblins
Committed jumps and pixel-precise throws, no mercy
Nex Machina
Rapid dodging through layered lasers and bullets is the entire test
Reads0 vs 0
Same score on reads - which means the number cannot separate them. The difference is in what each one asks of you.
Ghosts 'n Goblins
Enemy spawns are scripted
Nex Machina
All enemy behaviour is scripted arcade-style
Variance1 vs 2
Nex Machina leans a little harder on variance, though the gap is small.
Ghosts 'n Goblins
Red Arremer movement adds slight noise
Nex Machina
Enemy arrangement has minor randomisation between waves
Optimization6 vs 6
Same score on optimization - which means the number cannot separate them. The difference is in what each one asks of you.
Ghosts 'n Goblins
Weapon choice and route memorisation are mandatory
Nex Machina
Human rescue routing and weapon pick sequencing reward study
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.