Building comparison
head to head
Metal Gear SurvivevsTerraria
Neither is meaningfully harder - they pose close to the same test. The widest gap is optimization, and it is a single point.
Metal Gear Survive
Optimization · Pure Optimization
A survival-crafting loop where resource budgeting matters more than combat skill.
Terraria
Optimization · Pure Optimization
A 2D sandbox where preparation and gear tiering carry boss fights.
Metal Gear Survive leans Optimization (Pure Optimization); Terraria leans Optimization (Pure Optimization).
Metal Gear SurviveTerraria
Axis by axis
Execution4 vs 4
Same score on execution - which means the number cannot separate them. The difference is in what each one asks of you.
Metal Gear Survive
Spear-and-fence combat is deliberate, not twitchy
Terraria
Boss fights require dodging and aim under pressure.
Reads0 vs 0
Same score on reads - which means the number cannot separate them. The difference is in what each one asks of you.
Metal Gear Survive
Wanderers are mindless scripted zombies
Terraria
Bosses use scripted attacks; no adaptation.
Variance3 vs 3
Same score on variance - which means the number cannot separate them. The difference is in what each one asks of you.
Metal Gear Survive
Dust exploration hides resources until scouted
Terraria
World seeds and loot drops randomized.
Optimization7 vs 8
Terraria leans a little harder on optimization, though the gap is small.
Metal Gear Survive
Base-building, crafting chains and resource budgeting carry survival
Terraria
Gear progression and arena prep solve every boss.
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.