head to head
Neither is harder. They score identically on all four axes, so the difference between them is in kind, not degree.

Optimization · Practiced Mastery
Solving drawn-physics puzzles with light platforming execution between them.

Optimization · Practiced Mastery
A throwback 3D collectathon in the Banjo-Kazooie mold.
Max: The Curse of Brotherhood leans Optimization (Practiced Mastery); Yooka-Laylee leans Optimization (Practiced Mastery).
Same score on execution - which means the number cannot separate them. The difference is in what each one asks of you.
Max: The Curse of Brotherhood
Platforming and marker-drawing under chase pressure need moderate dexterity
Yooka-Laylee
3D movement, camera wrangling, mild platforming challenges
Same score on reads - which means the number cannot separate them. The difference is in what each one asks of you.
Max: The Curse of Brotherhood
No adaptive opposition - set-piece hazards only
Yooka-Laylee
No adaptive opposition
Same score on variance - which means the number cannot separate them. The difference is in what each one asks of you.
Max: The Curse of Brotherhood
Puzzle solutions are fixed once seen
Yooka-Laylee
Worlds are static once explored
Same score on optimization - which means the number cannot separate them. The difference is in what each one asks of you.
Max: The Curse of Brotherhood
Each physics puzzle has a discoverable intended solution
Yooka-Laylee
Pagie routing and move-unlock sequencing across worlds
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.