Building comparison
head to head
Hollow KnightvsSuper Punch-Out!!
Neither is harder. They score identically on all four axes, so the difference between them is in kind, not degree.
Hollow Knight
Execution · Practiced Mastery
A precision metroidvania about learning fixed boss patterns and tight platforming.
Super Punch-Out!!
Execution · Practiced Mastery
Memorising scripted boxer patterns and executing split-second counters.
Hollow Knight leans Execution (Practiced Mastery); Super Punch-Out!! leans Execution (Practiced Mastery).
Hollow KnightSuper Punch-Out!!
Axis by axis
Execution8 vs 8
Same score on execution - which means the number cannot separate them. The difference is in what each one asks of you.
Hollow Knight
Precise platforming and pogo timing dominate hard content.
Super Punch-Out!!
Frame-tight dodges and counters decide every bout
Reads1 vs 1
Same score on reads - which means the number cannot separate them. The difference is in what each one asks of you.
Hollow Knight
Bosses run scripted attack pools; not adaptive.
Super Punch-Out!!
Opponents are scripted pattern puzzles, not adapting minds
Variance1 vs 1
Same score on variance - which means the number cannot separate them. The difference is in what each one asks of you.
Hollow Knight
Negligible; world layout is fixed.
Super Punch-Out!!
Patterns are fixed once learned - nothing random
Optimization6 vs 6
Same score on optimization - which means the number cannot separate them. The difference is in what each one asks of you.
Hollow Knight
Charm builds and boss routes are fully learnable.
Super Punch-Out!!
Memorising each boxer's tells and optimal counters is the game
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.